Vulnerability Giving Attackers Full Control of Macs Is Under Active Exploitation
joshuark shares a report from Ars Technica: Dutch officials have warned that a high-severity macOS vulnerability that allows attackers to execute malicious code is under active exploitation. "The NCSC has received a notification indicating that active abuse of this vulnerability has been observed on multiple systems on which port 5900 was accessible from the Internet," the Netherlands National Cyber Security Centrum warned earlier this week. "In all these cases, root had been accessed on the affected system and a Monero crypto miner had been placed." The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-65400, received a patch from Apple last week for macOS Tahoe, Sequoia, and Sonoma. The vulnerability, with a severity rating of 7.1 out of 10, stems from a bug in the macOS screen sharing capability, which allows a remote party to view the screen and control the keyboard and mouse while a machine is turned on. A flaw in the "state management," which keeps track of preceding events, user interactions, variables, and other system states, is the underlying cause. A video of the exploit in action can be found here. Details of CVE-2026-65400 became public at last week's Black Hat security conference. Apple said last week that CVE-2026-65400 "may" allow an attacker without credentials to gain access to a Mac. It's unclear why Apple hedged, but softening language is common among most tech developers when disclosing vulnerabilities. As noted by the NCSC, the vulnerability is being exploited when port 5900 is exposed to the Internet. When screen sharing is turned on, the macOS firewall opens the port. Routers and dedicated firewalls generally block the port unless configured to override that setting. Security practitioners generally advise Mac users to keep the port closed even when using screen sharing and to instead connect over a VPN or through SSH tunneling. The alternatives require actions that aren't within the capabilities of most users. The safest practice is to block screen sharing, enable it only when screen sharing is needed, and to turn the feature off once a session has ended. Screen sharing can be turned on or off by accessing System Settings > General > Sharing and toggling the switch for Screen Sharing. Of course, installing last week's security update is also a must. Sharing is not caring. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Epic Games vs Apple — The continuing six-year App Store saga
The Epic Games "Fortnite" versus Apple's AppStore antitrust trial has completed its last week. Here's what you need to know about the saga, with closing arguments left to go. Between Epic CEO Tim Sweeney's ongoing complaints, the trial, Apple's lies, and the Supreme Court, the Epic vs. Apple App Store lawsuit continues to roll on years later. Here's all you need to know about the long-running courtroom drama, updated on August 15, 2026.Within the space of a few weeks in 2020, a disagreement between the ambitions of Epic Games and the intention to maintain the App Store status quo by Apple courted considerable controversy. The affair commenced with little warning to consumers but quickly led to international interest as the battle sought to change one of the fundamental elements of the App Store: how much Apple earns.Apple's dominance has previously led to an antitrust probe by the U.S. Justice Department into the App Store's fees and policies. Still, the disagreement between Apple and Epic was being made more public and directly affected younger customers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Today in Apple history: Original iMac arrives to save Apple
On August 15, 1998, the colorful iMac G3 went on sale to a rabid audience. The original iMac was the world's first internet-ready computer (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple @ Work: Understanding Apple Business Manager roles and permissions
Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. At this year’s WWDC, Apple announced an expanded Apple Business API. This update allows IT admins to retrieve device information, review audit events, and assign or unassign devices directly via the API. It is a fantastic update for enterprise IT folks building on Apple and Apple Business, but properly configuring the API can be a bit frustrating according to reports from developers.

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These are my favorite ultra-slim iPhone accessories for 2026 [Video]
I am always looking for ultra-slim accessories that complement my everyday carry, and I have usually been drawn to how slim tech companies and brands can make their products. Accessories that have excess bulk or lack organization, I tend to avoid. So, I have tested countless accessories, ranging from power banks to stands to magnetic cables and everything in between. So I wanted to share some of my absolute favorite accessories that are not only ultra slim and portable but also serve multiple purposes.

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This slim, metal, RFID-blocking wallet also works with Find My
This slim metal wallet holds up to 12 cards, blocks RFID scans and works with Apple's Find My network to keep your cards and cash safe. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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6 custom gestures that make my MacBook trackpad even better
Apple built an incredible trackpad, but BetterTouchTool taught mine six new tricks that I wouldn’t want to use my MacBook without. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple weekend deals: MacBooks up to $540 off, AirPods up to $100 off, Apple Watch, more
Your 9to5Toys Lunch Break weekend edition is here, and so are the deals. We are starting off with a series of solid headliners, including AirPods Pro 3 at 25% and AirPods Max 2 at $100 off on all five color options, as well as AirPods 4 with ANC dropping to the best price in 6 months at $135. Just be sure to scope out the Apple Certified Refurbished Store if there’s a new MacBook in your future while M5 Pro MacBook Pro model are up to $540 off. Those offers join Apple Watch Series 11 from $299 and a giant lineup of charging gear deals over at Amazon too. Check it all out down below. 

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U.S. Commerce Secretary warns Apple against buying Chinese memory
Apple's memory woes are continuing, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has urged Apple not to buy Mac memory chips from Chinese suppliers, despite the continuing supply crisis.CMXT is rapidly becoming a major player in memory - image credit: CXMTApple has been testing memory chips from the controversial CXMT as a way to ease the current global chip shortage. However, the politically sensitive move has now led to a warning from the Trump administration, delivered by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday about the warning to avoid purchasing Chinese chips. Following a tour of the new Apple Advanced Manufacturing Center in Houston, Lutnick told the media, "The Trump administration is not in favor of that." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Seven years later, the Apple Card is a huge but controversial success
On August 20, 2019, Apple officially launched Apple Card with any US citizen able to apply. Since then it's been a hit, but it's faced controversy over everything from low reward rates to alleged sex discrimination — and Apple's partner wanting to pull out.Apple CardIn every sense bar one, Apple Card is typical of the products Apple has been most famous for making. First it was rumored for years, then it launched to fanfare and criticism, plus it was even thought of first by Steve Jobs. The difference is that apart from its titanium card, it's not hardware, and apart from its app, it's not really software either.Apple Card belongs to the moment when Apple most clearly pivoted from being a hardware company that also did software, to one it's arguably a services firm. Apple was heading that way for a long time, and it's not as if its hardware and software are going away. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Nomad Stand One & Max 25W Wireless Charging Station review: Solid, fast and classy
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Fast 25W for iPhone Solid classy looking stand 3-in-1 charging option (Stand One Max) New Stellar Orange model Cons Premium price iPhone stand is not adjustable Requires wall charger Our Verdict The Nomad Stand One is a statement piece on any desk, oozing Apple vibes in its solid metal and glass Construction and at 25W reaching the latest and fastest iPhone charging rate. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$125 Best Prices Today: Nomad Stand One Retailer Price Nomad $125 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket From innovative cables and classic Watch bands to premium iPhone cases and design-conscious charging devices, Nomad offers a range of classy tech accessories that should match every Apple user’s aspiration. The company has updated its Stand One wireless iPhone charger to the latest Qi2 25W (Qi 2.2) tech standard to keep its range up to date. It follows similar 25W launches from the likes of Belkin, Anker, Baseus and ESR. And there’s a new Stellar Orange model of the Stand One. Note that Qi2 25W is supported only by the iPhone 16 or later. Older iPhones (12-15) will still power up via the chargers but at 15W, which is still significantly faster than the cheaper 7.5W merely MagSafe-compatible chargers. Nomad offers two models: the basic Stand One, a 2-in-1 iPhone and AirPods charging stand; and the Stand One Max, a horizontal 3-in-1 charging pad for iPhone, AirPods and Watch. These are the fourth generation of this classic design. Simon Jary Nomad Stand One: 2-in-1 wireless charger The Nomad Stand One is a sleek yet reassuringly heavy 2-in-1 charging stand for iPhone and AirPods. It is crafted from metal and glass and looks good enough to grace the Genius Bar desk at an Apple Store. The chassis is solid metal with a premium glass panel and anti-slip rubber base. The magnetic wireless charging is possible with any iPhone from the model 12 onwards, with the strange exception of the iPhone 16e. Nomad The AirPods 5W Qi charging dish sits hidden behind the iPhone stand, supporting any wireless charging-enabled AirPods case. Measuring 5 x 3.3 x 2.7 inches (12.7 x 8.3 x 6.9cm) it’s compact but not particularly portable as it weighs a 1.3lbs (575g). There are much lighter 2-in-1 stands but one of the selling of the Stand One is exactly this paperweight-like status as a sturdy desk stand. Simon Jary In our tests, the 25W Stand One lived up to expectations with a 50% charge time of 36 minutes. That’s a little over the very best we’ve seen (28 minutes) and the average 33 minutes, but certainly faster than the 45-50 minutes it takes a 15W charger—including the previous third-generation Stand One—to do the same. We test to 50% as after that level charging tends to slow as safeguards start to limit the amount of juice flowing into the phone to protect its battery from overheating. Overheating is something of a risk for the most capable devices as 25W generates a fair temperature at full pelt. To reduce this temperature some 25W wireless chargers include active cooling but the Stand One boasts no fan. The company claims that the stand’s metal structure effectively acts as a heatsink, so eliminating the need for a fan. This keeps it completely silent. The stand is solid and unmoving in terms of adjustability. Nomad calls the Stand One’s 21º viewing angle “perfect” but if you like to wiggle your phone into a position that suits you better, you must look elsewhere at other charging stands. The iPhone can sit in either portrait or landscape orientation and works with Apple’s StandBy mode for clock or photo viewing. Simon Jary Nomad Stand One Max: 3-in-1 wireless charger The Nomad Stand One Max takes the Stand One design and turns it into a horizontal pad style that measures 3.2 x 6.3 x 5 inches (8.2 x 16.1 x 12.8cm). Again, it’s reliably sturdy, weighing nearly 2lbs (just under 1kg). It features the same upright 21-degree 25W wireless iPhone charging stand, but with the AirPods pad placed next to it rather than behind, and a rigid Apple Watch at the other end for fast charging. Any version of the Apple Watch is supported. None of the charging pads are adjustable. As with the 2-in-1 Stand One, Nomad reckons its viewing angle is ideal, and having the Apple Watch charger moving around would not be a great idea as the magnetic connection is not as firm as with the iPhone. Nomad Orange joins the party Both Stand One and Stand One Max are available in either a silver & white color or black (which Nomad calls “Carbide”). The Stand One has a new color, Stellar Orange, to match the iPhone 17 Pro or just brighten up your desk. Each comes with a decent length 6.6ft (2m) color-matched braided nylon cable, but don’t not ship with the required 40W or higher USB-C wall charger. Nomad Price The Nomad Stand One costs $119 / £99 and the Stand One Max $159 / £139. For Apple-like chic you pay Apple prices. And the new Stellar Orange Stand One will set you back $139 / £109. As with Apple and its iPhone, there’s no USB-C wall charger included in the box for, ahem, environmental reasons (although there is a matching cable), so if you don’t have a spare charger you’ll need to invest in one of 40W or greater power. Check our recommendations for the best USB-C chargers. You can certainly buy cheaper but here you are paying for something with a little more class than most. Check out more options in our best MagSafe charger and best Apple Watch charger roundups. Simon Jary Should you buy the 25W Nomad Stand One or Stand One Max? The Nomad Stand One is a statement piece on any desk, oozing Apple vibes in its solid metal and glass construction and at 25W reaching the latest and fastest iPhone charging rate.

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Get lifetime access to 20+ AI models for $55
Macworld TL;DR: ChatPlayground AI gives you access to 20+ AI models in one interface, and it’s only $55 for life. Picking a single AI model means betting on that one tool’s strengths and living with its (many) blind spots. ChatPlayground AI works a little differently. Instead of locking you into one model, it gives you access to over 20 of the most popular AI models, including Claude, GPT, and Gemini. Through August 16, it’s only $54.97 to get a lifetime subscription. Here’s how it works. You type one prompt and see answers from more than 20 models side by side, including GPT-4o, Gemini, DeepSeek, Llama, and Perplexity. Reading them next to each other makes the best response a lot more obvious instead of forcing you to run the same question through four separate tabs. One of the other benefits of switching to a full AI platform is you get tools for more than just basic text. ChatPlayground has models that can generate images, work through coding problems, and refine prompts in the same window. Upload a PDF or an image and ask questions against it directly. Saved chat history keeps past conversations ready for ongoing projects, and priority support moves you to the front of the line when something needs sorting. Mac users can access ChatPlayground through any current browser, so there’s no app to install and nothing tied to a single machine. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all work as long as they’re up to date. Stop paying a separate subscription for every AI model you use. Get a ChatPlayground lifetime subscription for $54.97. Sale ends 11:59 p.m. PT on August 16. ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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Commerce Secretary says US opposes Apple buying Chinese memory chips
The Wall Street Journal reports that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has urged Apple not to turn to Chinese memory chips as the company looks for alternatives to alleviate the ongoing global supply shortage. Here are the details.

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