Innovative Mcon iPhone game controller looks like a million bucks
OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller, which adds joysticks, buttons and a D-pad to an iPhone, raised over a million dollars on Kickstarter. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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11th-gen iPad: Everything you need to know about the 2025 refresh
Macworld Apple went big on iPads in 2024, announcing new iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini tablets. But one model missed out: the standard, basic iPad. Other than getting even cheaper (it got an aggressive price cut to $349/£329 last year) Apple’s cheapest tablet is still exactly the same 10th-gen model that came out way back in 2022, and it’s looking overdue for an update. Fortunately we won’t have to wait much longer before that happens. From likely release date to new features, design changes and tech specs, here’s what we know so far about the 11th-gen iPad for 2025.  When will the 11th-gen iPad be released? The new 11th-gen iPad will probably launch in March or April 2025. Apple used to have a steady release schedule for its cheapest iPad, launching a new one each year alongside the latest iPhones at a September event. In 2022, the 10th-gen revamp saw a slight adjustment to October… but since then the yearly pattern has been abandoned completely. Here’s when the past five iPad models have launched: iPad (10th gen): October 2022 iPad (9th gen): September 2021 iPad (8th gen): September 2020 iPad (7th gen): September 2019 iPad (6th gen): March 2018 So when can we expect an update to the standard iPad? Most pundits expect Apple to switch things up by unveiling the new model at a spring event in March or April 2025 alongside the 4th-gen iPhone SE. There is precedent, as you can see: the 6th-gen iPad came out in spring too. Apple is keen to launch an affordable tablet that supports its Apple Intelligence AI platform as soon as possible, and in any case two and a half years is a long time to wait since the last update. We can’t see the company holding back the 11th-gen iPad until the summer or fall of 2025. How much will the 11th-gen iPad cost? The new 11th-gen iPad is likely to start at $449/£449. This is Apple’s cheapest tablet, so pricing is important. For a long time Apple kept its entry-level iPad in the $300-$350 ballpark, but that all changed in 2022: following the 10th-gen redesign, Apple upped the price from $329 to $449 (and from £319 to £449 in the U.K.). At the time we complained about this putting it out of the reach of budget buyers, and it affected our review quite significantly. But that wasn’t the end of the story. In May 2024, Apple dropped the price of the 10th-gen iPad to $349/£349. It then dropped the price again in the U.K. to £329. And we were happy, once again, to recommend the device to potential customers. Which is a roundabout way of saying that we’re less confident than we usually would be in predicting the pricing of the 11th-gen iPad. Has Apple learned its lesson about pushing the price too high, and will it go back to the budget prices of the past? Sadly this seems unlikely. Between the company’s recent drive towards higher margins and the major increase in processing power we expect for this generation (discussed in the next section) the 11th-gen iPad is very unlikely to cost less than $400. Our guess would be $449/£449 at launch, with a price cut to follow at a later date. And the 10th-gen model will remain in the lineup as a true budget option for those who don’t need Apple Intelligence. What tech specs and new features will we see in the 11th-gen iPad?  The new 11th-gen iPad will get an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, plus support for Apple Intelligence. The 10th-gen iPad delivered a major redesign, so we don’t expect too much to change externally. However, there will be some notable upgrades on the inside of the 11th-gen iPad: Processor and RAM The most obvious update to the 11th-gen iPad will be the chipset. The current model runs on an A14 chipset, which debuted in 2020 with the 4th-gen iPad Air and iPhone 12, but we expect that to jump to an A17 Pro with 8GB of RAM so it can run Apple Intelligence. That’s a serious increase in processing muscle (and likely rules out a sub-$400 price tag), but the 10th-gen iPad is the only currently available Apple tablet that doesn’t support Apple Intelligence and it’s crucial to get as many users as possible on the platform. Display As the display was increased from 10.2 inches to 10.9 inches as part of the 10th-gen revamp, we don’t expect any changes to the screen size this time around. The only possible change in this area is the use of a laminated display, which would make the device slightly thinner and offer better clarity. It would also make the tablet feel nicer in use, as unlaminated screens (as used on the 10th-gen iPad, among many other budget Apple tablets) have a tendency to yield downwards very slightly when you press on them. Apple Cameras Since the 10th-gen iPad was Apple’s first tablet to change the placement of the front camera from portrait to landscape mode and already has Center Stage, we don’t expect Apple to change the front camera. It’s possible Apple will upgrade the rear camera slightly, but since the M2 iPad Air released in 2024 has the same 12MP wide camera, it’s likely any improvements will come in the form of software updates. Storage If there’s one obvious area where a simple upgrade could make life easier for people, it’s storage. The cheapest configuration of the 10th-gen iPad still comes with just 64GB of storage, which isn’t going to be enough for a lot of customers; whereas the rest of the range starts with at least 128GB. As with the iPhone SE, we expect Apple to bump the base storage of its entry-level tablet up to 128GB when the 11th-gen iPad arrives, while simultaneously increasing the top offering to 512GB.  iPad (10th gen): 64GB, 256GB iPad (11th gen, expected): 128GB, 512GB We’ll keep updating this article as more information becomes available. Until then, you should check out our best 10th-gen iPad deals and best iPad deals roundups to see if you can bag yourself a bargain on the current range.

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Tim Cook talks his nontraditional retirement plan, daily routine, more in new interview
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently visited the UK just before Christmas, where he met King Charles III. While there, Cook also sat down for a podcast interview that was just published—here’s what he shared about his daily and weekly routines, nontraditional retirement plan, personal upbringing, and a lot more. more…

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macOS flaw that allowed attackers to bypass core system protections is now fixed
A macOS vulnerability exposed Apple devices to severe security risks by bypassing System Integrity Protection, but a security patch has killed the exploit.Update your Mac as soon as possibleOn January 13, 2025, Microsoft Threat Intelligence revealed a critical vulnerability in macOS — CVE-2024-44243 — that bypasses Apple's System Integrity Protection (SIP) by exploiting third-party kernel extensions. This issue, now patched, could have allowed attackers to compromise macOS security at its core.System Integrity Protection (SIP) is a macOS security feature designed to safeguard critical system files and processes. It restricts even users with administrative privileges from making changes that could compromise the operating system's stability and security. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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WhatsApp adds new camera effects, stickers, and faster reactions
WhatsApp has announced four improvements to the app, including making it faster and easier for you to react to messages with your most-used emoji. Parent company Meta says it wanted to start the new year by making the app more fun and easier to use, with a set of four enhancements … more…

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Lumon Industries ‘innies’ from the Apple TV+ series ‘Severance’ pop up in glass box in NYC’s Grand Central
Ahead of the season two premiere of hit Apple TV+ series "Severance," Apple is promoting its return with a "Severance" pop-up at… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Tim Cook invites you to donate to the Red Cross to assist LA wildfire recovery
Apple recently made a donation to assist with LA wildfire recovery efforts, and is now inviting customers to do the same. Those based in the US can make a donation to the American Red Cross’s Southern California Wildfires Relief fund though the App Store or Apple Music apps … more…

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Meta outage reports spike as Instagram, Facebook, Threads affected
Several Meta properties including Facebook are reportedly down for users within the last few minutes. Downdetector shows a spike of more than 10,000 reports and climbing for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. more…

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Affordable movie projector comes with 36,000 preloaded games
You can make movie night at home and elevate game time all in one with a 2-in-1 Ultimate HD Gaming Projector for video games and movies. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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The best smart home tech at CES 2025
We've completed our trek across the vast halls of CES 2025 to round up the best smart home devices for Apple users. From robot vacuums to pocketable projectors, here's what we've found.CES 2025 had lots of new smart home tech on displayAfter nearly a week of wandering the halls — and filling our Apple Watch rings — we've surfaced from CES with our top finds. We focused primarily on Apple Home or Matter-enabled products, but there are some others that we threw in too.Best of all, most all of these are shipping soon. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Best iPad VPN
Macworld A VPN is an essential tool for iPad users wanting to access streaming services in countries where they don’t exist (such as HBO Max in the U.K. or BBC iPlayer in the U.S.) or to watch content that isn’t available where you are on services like as Disney+, Netflix, or Amazon Prime. While this is likely to be against the terms and conditions of these services, if you are paying to watch the content it’s got to be better than piracy. If you’re traveling abroad and missing out on your favorite shows you can use a VPN to connect to a server in your own country and carry on watching as if you were at home. Plus, when you’re browsing the web using your iPad, your online activity is visible to your internet service provider (ISP), your government, and potentially others. But because a VPN changes your real IP address for a different one and encrypts the data going to and from your iPad, it makes it practically impossible to spy on you. The new IP address can make it appear that you’re located somewhere else in the world. That could be in the same country, or it could be halfway across the globe. 2025: Reviewed & Ranked We’ve tested many VPN services on Macs and also iPhone VPNs, but these are our recommendations for iPad owners. Below you will find the VPN services for iPad that we recommend based on our tests. Most of these cost less than $3/£3 per month if you sign up for a one- or two-year deal. However, once that deal period ends the price can jump, so it’s worth setting a reminder to shop around a month before your subscription runs out so you can search for a better deal, alternatively, you might be able to cancel and sign up with another email address. You may be able to save money if you take a look at our round-up of the best VPN deals. January 2025 Update: We’ve added Norton and Malwarebytes VPN options below. NordVPN Pros Lots of servers around the world Impressive speeds Independently audited Cons Not the cheapest option Connections aren't unlimited Price When Reviewed: Basic plan from $3.39 a month for two years. Usually $12.99. Basic 2-Year Plan $3.39 a monthBasic 1-Year Plan$4.99 a monthBasic Monthly Plan$12.99 a month Up to 6 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Amazon Fire TV and tvOS. NordVPN is easy to use and one of the fastest VPNs around and shouldn’t slow down your internet connection. It’s an excellent choice for iPad owners. The map view is fun to use on a screen larger than your phone’s, and it connects you swiftly to one of Nord’s thousands of servers (there are 5,300 in total across 60 countries, which means you can always find a server in the location you need that isn’t overloaded). It unblocks many services, including Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and BBC iPlayer. It also ticks the privacy box, having carried out four audits, most recently in January 2024. It features a kill switch, which is important to keep your data and location hidden if the VPN connection stops unexpectedly. Based in Panama, it’s outside of the jurisdiction of the ’14-eyes’ (a group of countries that have agreed to collect, analyze and share information).  You can connect up to six devices to NordVPN at once, and there are also apps for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Amazon Fire TV. You can get great discounts by signing up for a couple of years. See the deals on NordVPN’s website. Read our full NordVPN review Surfshark Pros Unlimited devices and connections Multi-Hop servers Security features and audited no-logs policy Cons Kill switch can’t be customised Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: Starter plan from $2.19 a month for two years + 3 free months. Usually $15.45 a month. Starter 2-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$2.19 a monthStarter 1-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$3.19 a monthStarter Monthly Plan$15.45 a month Unlimited devices. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Chrome, Firefox and Edge extensions. Surfshark is an easy-to-use and intuitive VPN with a slick iPad app that has more features than you might expect given the low price. The service now has more than 3,200 servers across 100+ countries but, importantly, lets you watch Netflix shows, BBC iPlayer and other streaming services that aren’t normally available in your region. You’ll find security features including a kill switch and Multi-Hop, which routes your connection through two countries instead of just one. It’s run from the Netherlands which is privacy-friendly, has a strict no-logs policy, uses two-factor authentication (2FA), and is one of the members of the VPN Trust Initiative. Despite the low monthly cost, just beware that the price increases substantially on renewal–a gotcha with quite a few VPN services and one that’s easily missed when signing up. Our advice is to cancel before it renews and sign up for a new deal. It really is one of the best VPNs around, and also one of the fastest thanks to the use of the WireGuard protocol. See the current deals on Surfshark’s website and read our Surfshark review for more details. Read our full Surfshark review ExpressVPN Pros Simple to use on all platforms Big focus on privacy and transparency 105 countries Cons A little barebones Price When Reviewed: From $4.99 a month for 2 years + 6 free months 1-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$6.67 a month6-Month Plan$9.99 a monthMonthly plan$12.95 a month Up to 8 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, tvOS, Mac, Android, Windows, Chrome, XBox, Playstation, Switch and more. Also among our favourite VPNs for the iPad is ExpressVPN, which has 105 country options and a network of more than three thousand servers. ExpressVPN unblocks more video services than rivals. It claims to reliably unblock over 200 streaming service and also gives you a backup option – the MediaStreamer proxy service – if you find that the VPN isn’t unblocking at the exact moment you want to watch. It bills itself as the premium option, and justifies this partly with the long list of video services it works with. There is also 24/7 live chat support and Threat Manager blocks traffic from websites known to be malicious. There’s also an ad blocker and an adult site blocker. You can expect fast speeds thanks to its proprietary Lightway protocol and privacy is good thanks to the TrustedServer setup (where the software runs entirely in RAM and doesn’t save any data to the hard drive). The company is registered in the British Virgin Islands, a self-governing territory that isn’t subject to British laws. It operates a no-logs policy. As well as using it on your iPad, there are also apps for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Fire TV and more. There’s a limit of eight devices at once (up from 5 previously). While not the cheapest, ExpressVPN does run discounts, with the best deal being the one-year subscription, which is almost half-price. Read our full ExpressVPN review ProtonVPN Pros Simple to use Free plan Great speed Cons Set up is a little fiddly Price When Reviewed: From $4.49 a month for two years. Usually $9.99 a month. 2-Year Plan$4.49 a month1-Year Plan$4.99 a monthProton VPN FreeFree account, 1 device Up to 8 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, tvOS, Mac, Android, Windows, and more. ProtonVPN’s free tier of membership sets Proton VPN apart from some of its rivals. It’s limited, with US, Japan, and Netherlands as the server locations and some speed drop – but it’s usable. If you subscribe, you get a sleek interface, impressive connection speeds and more than enough features, without throwing too many complex concepts at new users.  Proton VPN Plus features include an ad and tracker blocker and speed of up to 10 Gbps, as well as a 10-device limit. There’s Port Forwarding for downloads and gaming, and a Kill Switch for disconnecting should the VPN drop out. The company offers a “no-logs” policy – meaning it doesn’t track sites, IP addresses, communications, or session lengths, nor does it track location-based information. Proton is Swiss-based, so only Swiss court orders can request data from the company, but since it doesn’t log data there’s very little it can reveal. Secure Core, routes traffic through one of the company’s ‘Secure’ servers, minimizing the potential of a data leak. There secure servers owned by Proton in more than 90 countries. Proton VPN does increase latency, but only by about 29% in our testing on a modest 60 Mbps broadband. It was only about 7% slower when downloading and 5.5% slower when uploading – one of the slicker VPNs we’ve tested. Of the included VPN protocols, Smart will be enough for most users, automatically setting the right protocol for your current usage, but WireGuard, WireGuard (TCP), IKEv2 and Stealth are also offered. Proton VPN is an easy recommendation both for new and experienced users. You can sign up for Proton VPN here. Read our full ProtonVPN review Private Internet Access Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: From $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $11.99 a month. Unlimited devices. 2-Year Plan (+4 free months)$2.19 a month6-Month Plan$7.50 a monthMonthly plan$11.99 a month Unlimited devices. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows, and more. Private Internet Access (PIA) is designed for savvy users, with power user tools and features such as custom DNS, connection rules, and split-tunneling. Despite this, it comes in at a lower cost than many competitors. The app offers servers in 91 countries. In testing, the auto setting did a good job of picking servers that balanced speed and privacy. The main window provides information on performance, download and upload speeds, and quick settings for things like Port Forwarding and LAN connections. PIA also offers customizable features like automation setup and DNS options.  While you can use PIA for getting around geoblocked content on your streaming services, PIA’s main focus is privacy, with features like the Advanced Kill Switch, Split Tunnelling, port forwarding, and Multi-Hop server obfuscation. Its zero-log policy has been verified by Deloitte Audit Romania. Private Internet Access can’t beat the speeds of NordVPN and Surfshark, and its stablemate CyberGhost VPN offers more impressive speeds, but at the cost of some power features. In our testing, we saw a reasonable drop of around 8% while using the PIA VPN. Upload speeds dropped considerably – by around 25%, which may be an issue if you do a lot of uploading.  Despite inconsistent speeds, Private Internet Access is a great VPN for all budgets with a wealth of features for privacy-inclined users. You can sign up for Private Internet Access here. Read our full Private Internet Access review ClearVPN Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: Three day trial. Currently $44.99 a year, usually $119.88 a year ($9.99 a month). 1-Year Plan (6 devices)$44.99 a year (usually $119.98)Monthly Plan (6 devices)$9.99 a month Up to 6 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows. MacPaw’s ClearVPN lacks some of the advanced features offered by other services, but it’s one of the easiest VPNs to use. It’s thoughtfully designed for VPN newcomers: you need only hit a button to connect. It’s all pretty basic stuff, but we think those new to VPNs will appreciate the simplicity. There are options to block ads and a Kill Switch to automatically cut traffic from your device if the connection to the VPN is broken. ClearVPN can grant access to more than 50 servers, which sounds like a lot, but thats a fraction of what’s offered by rivals. But you only really need a server in the country you want to be surfing, so it may not matter. One common power user feature offered by VPNs is split tunneling, which lets some traffic go through the VPN while some goes around it. That’s not supported by ClearVPN.  MacPaw’s VPN speeds aren’t as good as the competition. We saw speed drops across multiple servers – even ones close to us. We saw drops of around 20 to 30 percent in download speed, and around 50 percent for upload speed. It’s still fast enough to use Netflix though. Most VPN companies use external auditors to verify that they’re not recording user or session data. ClearVPN hasn’t undergone one at the time of writing. This shouldn’t mean anything untoward as the company is headquartered in Ukraine, which falls outside of various surveillance alliances, so it can’t be asked to share your data. ClearVPN is priced affordably, but prices and the deals on offer change all the time with VPNs so look out for low monthly prices that don’t lock you in for too long. There’s a six-device limit that can include Macs, iPhone and iPads.  If you’re new to using a VPN service, ClearVPN makes a compelling case to be your first choice., and stress-free access to Netflix around the globe, it’s a great starter option. Still, the speed drop and lack of common features like split-tunneling likely mean power users should look elsewhere. You can sign up for ClearVPN here. Read our full ClearVPN review PureVPN Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: Standard plan from $2.14 a month for two years + 3 free months, $58.05 a year (usually $349.65). 2-Year Plan (+ 3 free months)$2.14 a month1-Year Plan$3.99 a month1 Month Plan$12.95 a month Up to 6 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows. If you’re want a VPN service that will get around geoblocking and is easy to use, PureVPN is a good option. The basic plan only includes the VPN service, but the Plus plan adds a Password Manager and File Encryption tools. The Max plan adds a Digital Privacy Manager that recommends ways to maximize your privacy. Whichever plan you opt for you’ll be able to connect 10 devices at once. PureVPN will run on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and is easy to use on each to let you connect to over six thousand servers. As far as getting around geo-blocks, we found PureVPN to be as easy as any other service to use. Select a location, load your streaming service or app of choice, and you’re off. PureVPN now registered in the British Virgin Islands, which is more privacy-friendly than Hong Kong where it was previously. PureVPN offers one of the more impressive no-logging policies, with an ongoing audit process that means auditors can request confirmation of the no-logs policy at any time. PureVPN has been winding down its virtual servers, of which it has less control. There are still 23 such servers, but PureVPN is transparent about which servers are virtual and which are physical – you can see a small ‘v’ next to each virtual server on the PureVPN website. You can sign up for PureVPN here. Read our full PureVPN review Malwarebytes Privacy VPN Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: $39.99 a year for one device 1-Year Plan$39.99 a year2-Year Plan$79.99 for two years Pay per device (up to 20 devices). Apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, Windows. Malwarebytes is, of course, known for it’s antivirus software, and it’s one of the options we’ve looked at in our round up of the Best Antivirus for Mac, reviewed here Malwarebytes Premium for Mac review. Malwarebytes Premium also has a VPN element to it that can also be purchased separately if you just want a VPN. Malwarebytes Privacy VPN is easy to use and offers speeds that are better than many of its rivals for both downloads and uploads. It also has split-tunnelling via its ‘Connection rules’, and a Kill Switch to cut all traffic if the VPN drops out. There are some caveats — namely that it features fewer server locations than its rivals, and getting around geoblocks for different versions of streaming services can be a tad inconsistent. There’s no multi-hop server jumping, but the company does have a verified no-logs policy in place which means information isn’t held about a user’s activity. However, it offers a pretty compelling package of features and Malwarebytes VPN is available just about anywhere, Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, with Windows, iOS, iPadOS, Android, and plenty more apps You can sign up for Malwarebytes Privacy VPN here. Read our full Malwarebytes Privacy VPN review CyberGhost Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: $2.19 a month for two years + 2 free months. Usually $12.99 a month. 2-Year Plan (+ 2 free months)$2.19 a month6-Month Plan$6.99 a monthMonthly Plan$12.99 a month Up to 7 devices at once. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android, Windows and more. CyberGhost is really easy to use and one of the least-expensive services when you sign up for a couple of years.  CyberGhost has more than 7,000 servers across 90 countries, so you’re bound to find a connection that suits your needs. CyberGhost allows seven simultaneous connections. Of potentially more interest to most people is the fact it’s pretty reliable for unblocking streaming services. It unblocks Netflix, Disney+, HBOMax, Amazon Prime and others. CyberGhost even provides a streaming list so you can choose the best server to unblock specific streaming services on specific devices. CyberGhost is based in Romania, which is good for privacy. Deloitte has audited CyberGhost’s privacy claims and found no issues. With support for WireGuard, CyberGhost offers speedy connections and one subscription allows you to use the service on up to seven devices at once. You can sign up for CyberGhost here. Read our full CyberGhost review Norton Ultra VPN Pros Impressive WireGuard speeds Dedicated downloading and streaming servers Independent audit Cons No split tunneling Price doubles on renewal Price When Reviewed: First year is from $39.99 Norton Secure VPN; $49.99 Norton Ultra VPN; $59.99 Norton Ultra VPN Plus. Renews at a higher price of $79.99/$109.99/$129.99. Norton VPN Standard: 1 device. VPN Plus: 5 devices. VPN Ultimate: 10 devices. Apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Android, Windows and more. Norton is best known as an antivirus solution (see our review of Norton 360), but it also offers a VPN solution which can be tied to the antivirus or purchased separately. Norton’s VPN includes plenty of accoutrements that other VPNs either don’t have or charge extra for. If you’re looking for real-time protection it remains a good security-focused option, but with geoblocking being inconsistent in our testing, you might want to look elsewhere for your international Netflix fix. Norton has servers in 32 countries – a steep drop from the 111 in NordVPN’s portfolio – but it does offer four protocols to choose from. VPNs naturally decrease your internet speeds and we found Nord’s VPN did lag behind some rivals. Norton’s Browser Protection scans sites as you browse, so you do get the benefit of real-time detection alerts if a site might be unsafe. Norton does a good job with privacy, with a 2024 VerSprite audit confirming Norton’s VPN “no logs” policy. You can install the app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and all three platforms have apps that work well and run nicely in the background. You can sign up for Norton Ultra VPN here. Read our full Norton Ultra VPN review For more advice about accessories and software for your Mac, iPad or iPhone see all our Best Picks. Do iPads need a VPN? You might be wondering if iPad users even need a VPN. Since Apple introduced iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey in 2021 the company has offered iCloud Private Relay to iCloud subscribers, which is a little like a VPN. iCloud Private Relay encrypts your Safari-based browsing and sends it through a relay to hide your location, IP, and any information about what you were browsing. iCloud Private Relay means that companies cannot build a clear picture of you on the web, thereby protecting your privacy. You do need to be a subscriber to iCloud, and only use Safari, but iCloud Private Relay will provide you with some anonymity when you are surfing the web. However, iCloud Private Relay only works when you are using Safari, requires a subscription to iCloud, and it won’t allow you to surf via a server in another country in order to access content that is locked to a particular region. iCloud Private Relay does not allow you to choose an IP address or a region, and you won’t be able to make it look like you’re coming from another location. So you can’t watch geographically locked Netflix content, for example. You can also learn how to use a VPN on iPad once you’ve chosen a service. For more information on the legalities and whether it is safe to use a VPN read: Is a VPN safe for iPad? If you’ve still got some questions and want to find out more, read what is a VPN and are VPNs legal?

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TikTok may get a 270-day extension before a ban; denies Elon Musk report
TikTok was set to be banned from the US within a matter of days, but Congress may be about to grant it an extension of 270 days. In related news, Chinese officials have denied a Bloomberg report that Bytedance is considering selling its US operations to X owner Elon Musk … more…

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Apple, Amazon successfully fend off $600 million UK lawsuit over alleged ‘collusion’
A tribunal ruled Tuesday that Apple and Amazon successfully defended themselves against a mass lawsuit in Britain alleging collusion to… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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3 overlooked Apple products getting updates in 2025
Apple has mostly neglected three of its products, but that’s reportedly about to change. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Tony Fadell wanted Apple to buy Sonos; Steve wanted to sue it
A fun piece of Apple history has been revealed thanks to a look at how Sonos started and where it is headed. It turns out that ‘father of the iPod‘ Tony Fadell wanted Apple to buy the premium audio company. Fadell tried to persuade Steve Jobs to do so, but Apple’s co-founder refused, saying that he instead wanted to sue the company … more…

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Favorable Refresh Cycle, Windows 10 End Drove 2024 PC Shipment Growth
Shipments of personal computers grew in 2024, fueled by businesses replacing old hardware and Microsoft's looming end of support for its Windows 10 operating system. The post appeared first on TechNewsWorld.

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Apple may have solved the biggest problem with embedding Face ID in the display
We know from previous Apple patents that the company is hard at work figuring out ways of embedding Face ID in the display of future iPhones. The biggest barrier here is that the infrared light needed for Face ID doesn’t travel well through a display – but a newly-granted Apple patent suggests that the company may have figured out a solution … more…

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Anker 140W 4-Port (PD 3.1) Charger review
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Cables hang down 140W PD 3.1 Foldable prongs (U.S. and U.K.) Cons Our Verdict This is a fine charger with a different take on port placement that will please those for whom technology’s impact on a home or work environment is important. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$89.99 Best Prices Today: Anker 140W 4-Port PD 3.1 Charger Retailer Price $89.99 View Deal Anker $89.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket USB-C wall chargers get smaller and cuter every year, but stick a cable in one and it becomes an eyesore poking out at the opposite end to the wall. Anker makes a lot of those mini and some less mini chargers, but its latest creation bucks the ugly-sticky-out-cable trend by elegantly locating the ports on the underside of the charger. The Anker 140W 4-Port PD 3.1 Charger lacks a catchy name but solves the charger-cable aesthetic challenge with its near configuration. Simon Jary / Foundry Ports The four underside ports are as follows: 2x USB-C: 140W PD 3.1 1x USB-C: 40W 1x USB-A: 33W Each of the 140W USB-C ports could be used to fast-charge even the top-end 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro and are rated at PD 3.1. As the maximum output is 140W you can’t charge two at the same time at that rate. Note that the maximum output reduces to 134W when charging four devices. Use all four ports at the same time, and you could get 65W from one of the PD 3.1 ports and 45W from the other, plus 12W from the remaining USB-C port and 12W from the USB-A. That’s enough for a MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air or iPhone, and a couple more low-power devices. Used on its own, the legacy USB-A port offers an impressive 33W. While the wattage is theoretically enough to fast-charge an iPhone, Apple insists you use a 20W+ (we’d recommend 30W+) USB-C charging port. Simon Jary / Foundry Design The underside location of the ports is clever, although a little fiddlier to insert while the charger is connected vertically to the power socket. If your power socket is on a desk rather than a wall, the ports are situated on one side and therefore don’t stick out from the top like most chargers. This again is more pleasing to the eye. Anker Built using Gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor material, the charger is small for a four-port model, although not as dinky as a one-port tiddler. It’s available in either silver or gray, and both the U.S. and U.K. models boast foldable plug prongs. The Anker’s closest rival would be the Ugreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port GaN Charger, with ports at the traditional end. The Ugreen charger measures 2.76 x 2.76 x 1.3 inches (7 x 7 x 3.3cm) and weighs 10.7 ounces (303g). The Anker is very slightly smaller but a tad wider at 2.72 x 2.72 x 1.42 inches (6.9 x 6.9 x 3.6cm) and weighs less at 9.7 oz (275g). The U.K. model is wider due to the larger prongs and therefore a little heavier at 10.4oz (295g). There’s little in it, and the Ugreen charger can push out 160W instead of 140W, plus output 65W from two of its ports at the same time, leaving 15W to share between the remaining two. The Ugreen charger doesn’t have a smart color display like the Anker’s, which shows provides a detailed view of the charging status, temperature and port details. Anker Price The Anker 140W 4-Port (PD 3.1) Charger is priced at $89.99 / £89.99 and is also available on Amazon and Amazon U.K. The rival 160W Ugreen Nexode Pro costs $119.99 / £99, so the Anker wins on price. Should you buy the Anker 140W 4-Port (PD 3.1) Charger? Choosing between the Anker 4-Port 140W Charger and Ugreen 160W Nexode Pro will come down to your desire for the differently placed ports and maybe the smart display, unless the dual 65W charging is a more powerful pull. Once you see the Anker’s elegant port configuration it’s almost upsetting to see chargers with ports sticking out at one end. To be fair, the old port placement is easier to use if you are more frequently connecting and disconnecting, but if you leave the cables in place for most of the time it is an undeniably more aesthetic charging solution. This is a fine charger with a different take on port placement that will please those for whom technology’s impact on a home or work environment is important.

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Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Powerbank 20000mAh 145W Max review: smart pillar with plenty of power
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros High capacity 15W Qi2 wireless charging pad Informative display Cons High price Our Verdict The pillar design of the Nexode Qi2 Power Bank has its advantages, especially when using the Qi2 charging slot. The performance is faultless and the informative display is equally impressive. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When Reviewed$179.99 Best Prices Today: Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank 20000mAh 145W Retailer Price $179.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket The pillar design of the Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank is reminiscent of a skyscraper—albeit a squat one. It offers an impressive 20000mAh battery capacity in a small footprint. And just like a skyscraper, it has something on top: a 65-degree tilting Qi2 wireless charging station provides additional convenience and flexibility when charging. A striking feature is the large display, as we have seen in other Nexode power banks. The screen provides informative information about the connected interface and the charging power. However, this only applies to the three interfaces and not to the Qi2 charging port. Thomas Bergbold There is also a large percentage display and the estimated duration of how long the power bank can deliver energy at that power, or how long it will take until the Nexode power bank is charged. Incidentally, this took around 1.5 hours in our test. Thomas Bergbold Speaking of power, the Nexode Power Bank can deliver a maximum of 145W. In detail, this is a maximum of 15W at the Qi2 charging station, 100W at the first USB-C port, 45W at the second USB-C and 22.5W at the USB-A. The Nexode Power Bank can be charged itself via USB-C1 with 65W and USB-C2 with 45W. Four devices can be charged simultaneously. As expected, the charging time is faultless. An iPhone 15 is charged by 50% within 30 minutes on the USB-C and 32% on the Qi2 charging port. The 11-inch iPad Pro also charges at 36% and the MacBook Air M3 at 36%. You can also use the power bank as a desktop charging station when you connect a high-powered USB-C wall charger to the USB-C port on the back of the power bank. Thomas Bergbold What you rarely hear from manufacturers is the life expectancy of the battery. Ugreen specifies 1,000 charging cycles, after which the battery will still have 80% of its original capacity. The cells used are of type 21700, so theoretically a repair should be possible. To prevent damage to the battery and the connected devices, Ugreen has installed appropriate protective circuits—for example, for temperature, voltage and current. Another interesting feature is protection against deep discharge, which is something you rarely find. And while we’re on the subject of protection, proper rubber feet not only provide good protection for furniture, but also ensure a secure stand. Price The Ugreen Nexode Qi2 20000mAh Power Bank 140W costs $179.99 / £179.99. The price is high but is explained by the useful Qi2 charging slot. If you don’t need this, you are better off with the otherwise comparable Nexode 130 watt power bank that we reviewed previously. Thomas Bergbold Should you buy the Ugreen Nexode Qi2 Power Bank? If your MacBook urgently needs power, but the socket is far away, the Ugreen Nexode Power Bank comes into its own. The upright design is ideal for a standing desk. And at the same time, the iPhone is also supplied with power via the Qi2 charging slot. It’s practical that you can tilt the Qi2 charging station to see the display. With a full capacity of 20000mAh and a maximum output of 145W, the Nexode Qi2 145W Power Bank won’t run out of steam any time soon.

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Apple and Amazon get $600 million UK lawsuit dismissed
A lawsuit claiming that Apple and Amazon colluded to fix the price of Apple products and reduce competition, has been rejected by a UK tribunal.Apple and Amazon have been accused of price-fixingIn one of three similar cases accusing Apple and Amazon of price fixing, the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that the case cannot continue to trial. The decision to dismiss the case is reportedly an unusual one as the tribunal more often allows claimants to pursue cases further.In this situation, the mass lawsuit — Britain's equivalent of a class-action one — was brought by consumer law academic and professor of law, Christine Riefa. She brought the suit on behalf of potentially 36 million British consumers who bought Apple or Beats products. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Zens Nightstand Charger Pro 2 review: Slim speed for the nightstand
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros Fast charging Compact and heavy Cons Apple Watch charging slot difficult to open High price Our Verdict The Nightstand Charger Pro 2 is a great charging station—and not just for the bedside table. It combines high charging speeds with a premium choice of materials and excellent workmanship. The only drawback: the charging slot for the Apple Watch could be a little easier to access. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Retailer Price Zens $109.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Price When Reviewed$109.99 Best Prices Today: Zens Nightstand Charger Pro 2 Retailer Price Zens $109.99 View Deal $119.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket With an edge length of less than 10cm and a height of 8cm, the Zens Nightstand Charger 2 looks small on the bedside table. To prevent it from being accidentally pushed to the side, it has a rubber coating on the underside and, thanks to its zinc alloy materials, weighs a hefty and stable 326 grams. The 15W MagSafe-compatible Qi2 charging pad can be folded out to activate the iPhone’s standby mode. A charging slot for the Apple Watch is hidden behind the iPhone charging pad. If you need it, simply fold it up. Thomas Bergbold Thanks to Qi2 with 15W, the charging speed is high. After 30 minutes, we measured 30 per cent for the iPhone 15 and 60 per cent for the Apple Watch 7. A 20W power adapter is included with the Nightstand Charger 2. We would have preferred a little higher but this should be just enough for wireless charging of iPhone and Watch. Thomas Bergbold Verdict It has to be noted that this charging station is not cheap at $110/£90, but it is a premium-build charging station. The metal workmanship is high quality, the charging speed is fast and the footprint is perfect for the bedside table. Our only point of criticism is that the charging module for the Apple Watch is a fingernail killer. It is difficult to fold out of its recessed position.

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Apple’s string of failures shows just how badly things need to change
Macworld Truly, Apple’s rise from near-bankruptcy to being one of the most valuable companies in the world is a story for the business history books. But as legendary football coach/analyst John Madden frequently said, “Winning is the best deodorant.” (that’s American football, for our U.K. audience.) When you’re riding high–and have been riding high for a couple of decades–it’s very hard to notice the parts of your business that have begun to emit a bit of an odor. To take another page from football, Apple has a winning playbook, and it keeps using it. But if you keep calling the same plays without adapting and reacting, a winning playbook can become something much worse. In the past year, two major Apple product launches show just how calcified the company’s strategy has become–and how much it needs to change. The unnecessary product launch It was clear as a bell to anyone who knew anything about Apple that the Vision Pro wasn’t going to be a mass-market product. More than a year before the product shipped, there were rumors that it would be priced at more than $2,000 (a full $1,500 lower than its actual shipping price). Even at $2,000, it seemed like Apple’s headset couldn’t find much of a customer base. For months, I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t just going to be sold as a Developer Kit. I think the Vision Pro and visionOS have a lot of potential in the long run, but it’s the earliest of days right now, and it’s going to take many years for this bet to pay off, if it ever does. Developers and users can buy a Vision Pro to get some amazing tech demos and imagine the future, but I wouldn’t recommend one to any regular person today. But Apple hasn’t shipped a weird, niche, early-adopters-only product in decades. (To Apple’s credit, this is a way in which it isn’t sticking to the usual playbook.) Since Steve Jobs came back, pretty much everything has been calibrated to reach a large worldwide market of potential customers. As a result, the company’s product roll-out engine–a legendary one, copied across industries because it’s so successful–revved itself up and prepared to introduce the Vision Pro. What a waste of time, money, and attention. It took eight months for Tim Cook to tell the Wall Street Journal that “At $3,500, it’s not a mass-market product… it’s an early-adopter product. People who want to have tomorrow’s technology today—that’s who it’s for.” He’s not wrong, but it took him eight months to admit it because Apple is just not wired to quietly release a product that’s not really for the masses. To be fair, the world is not wired to accept any Apple product announcement as anything but earth-shattering. We’ve all been conditioned by Apple’s success and marketing strategies to think that way. That Vision Pro launch was counterproductive. Now, the product carries at least a whiff of failure, and it could have been avoided. They weren’t ever going to sell millions of first-generation Vision Pros. Apple could’ve shown it off as a tech demo or released it as a developer kit, and the narrative would have been different. It may be years before the Apple Vision Pro is a product the general consumer would consider.Apple But again, Apple’s just not wired that way. It’s a splashy product launch or nothing. The feature roll-out overreaction Apple got caught flat-footed on AI, a potentially existential mistake. To its credit, the company reacted: June’s WWDC announcements were primarily related to Apple Intelligence. The company needed to send a message that it might not be ahead, exactly, but it was on it and there was going to be AI goodness in Apple products, too. I have no complaints about any of that. But what followed shows that Apple’s too busy following its old playbook: In the fall, Apple began a full-court press of marketing for the new iPhone and other devices that focused on Apple Intelligence. It used Apple Intelligence to try to sell new iPhones, even though the features weren’t available! Over the ensuing months, it oversold many of the features while continuing to promise functionality that is still waiting in the wings. Apple Intelligence, as currently constituted, is half-baked–and I’m being generous. Anyone who carefully follows Apple understands why it’s this way, and I’d even say that I’m optimistic that the company will get out in front of it given enough time. But right now, implementations of many features are slapdash at best, and some of the most dazzling features announced in June are unlikely to ship until it’s almost June again. The execution of Apple Intelligence has not be able to live up to the hype.Foundry Apple needs to flog new iPhones every fall, it’s true. But was it the right call to sell a not-quite-there (figuratively or even literally) feature? It doesn’t seem so to me. And it undercuts Apple’s response to criticism of its problematic news summaries that it’s just beta software. Sure it is–beta software that’s shipping in final software and being heavily promoted to customers. Going through the motions A lot of Apple’s biggest blunders in the last decade seem tied to old ways of thinking, not adapting themselves to changing times. It has reacted to design failures like the “butterfly” keyboard in laptops slowly and tentatively. The Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses seem to exist very much in a product niche occupied by AirPods, but Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that we shouldn’t expect an Apple response until 2026 at the earliest. Apple once was able to create the iPod in a crash program in a matter of months, but today’s Apple is apparently the kind of ocean liner that takes a very long time to course correct. And then there’s the company’s reaction to regulation–and, indeed, many of its anti-competitive policies and product strategies. A lot of these strategies are straight out of the playbook built by Steve Jobs during his return to the company and inculcated into the corporate culture. In those days, Apple was an underdog that was fresh from a near-death experience and desperately had to scrape to survive. Today’s Apple is a titan, but it still behaves like it’s a put-upon underdog in danger of being taken advantage of by the cold, cruel world. It’s a real “are we the baddies” moment in the making if the company would have a modicum of introspection. Success has been very, very good to Apple in so many ways. But many of the traits that brought Apple here have become weaknesses. For the company to make the next couple of decades successful, it needs to show more adaptability.

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Parallels Desktop 20.2 update released, offers improved X86 and virtual machine support
The Parallels Desktop 20.2 update has been released, the new version offering 64-bit x86 emulation for Apple Silicon and more enhancements to make Apple Intelligence Writing Tools work with Windows apps. The update adds several key changes to the virtualization tool, chief among them being an early technology preview of x86 emulation for Apple Silicon […] Source

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Arizona TSMC plant nears completion, testing, and shipment of A-series chips
The first of the mass-produced U.S. made A-series chips is about to begin at TSMC’s Arizona plant. According to Nikkei Asia, test production of the chips at the new plant has been completed, and Apple is in the final stages of verifying their quality and performance. As such, the first batch of commercially viable chips […] Source

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Get $45 to spend when you get a Costco Gold Star Membership for $65
Macworld Life is expensive, but it may be a little easier to manage if you start consolidating your errands into one location: Costco. Sure, a Gold Star Membership costs $65, but now it also comes with a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card. That’s $45 to spend in person or online at Costco. Here’s how to make that happen:  First, you have to either be a new member or have had your membership expire for 18 months or longer. If you’ve been putting off renewing your membership, here’s your sign.  Next, you’ll buy your Costco Gold Star Membership here for $65. That’s the same price you’d normally pay, by the way. Important: make sure to use a valid email when you sign up. That’s because within two weeks of redeeming your membership, you’ll get your $45 Digital Costco Shop Card in your inbox.  All that’s left is to go shopping. You can use your $45 in-person or online. How many hotdogs would that cover?  It might be time to trade all those little errands for a trip to Costco.  Get a Costco 1-Year gold Star Membership and a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card for $65.    Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $45 Digital Costco Shop Card – $65 See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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Parallels Can Now Run x86 Windows and Linux On Apple Silicon Mac
Parallels Desktop now supports running 64-bit x86 operating systems on Apple Silicon Macs through its proprietary emulation engine, enabling users to run traditional Windows and Linux distributions. However, performance is said to be "really slow." How-To Geek reports: The latest Parallels Desktop 20.2 update adds early support for x86 emulation on Apple Silicon, allowing traditional x86 PC operating systems to work on newer Mac computers. There were already apps like UTM that could do it (most of them are based on QEMU), but this feature uses Parallels' "proprietary emulation engine" paired with Apple's built-in hypervisor. [...] Parallels on Apple Silicon can now "run existing x86_64 Windows 10, Windows 11*, Windows Server 2019/2022, and some Linux distributives with UEFI BIOS via Parallels Emulator." You can also create new Windows 10 21H2 and Windows Server 2022 virtual machines if needed. There are some big limitations. You can only run 64-bit x86 operating systems -- sorry, FreeDOS fans -- but those 64-bit operating systems can run 32-bit applications. There's also no support for USB devices, nested virtualization (so WSL2 won't work), or the Parallels hypervisor. Performance will also be "really slow," since x86 instructions have to be translated to ARM. The company said, "Windows boot time is about 2-7 minutes, depending on your hardware. Windows operating system responsiveness is also low." Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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How to record audio and create transcripts in Notes in iOS 18
The Notes app in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 makes it easy to add an audio recording to a note, and create a written transcription of it if desired. Here's how to do it.Notes can record audio and provide transcriptions, starting with iOS and iPadOS 18.It has long been possible to add an audio recording to a note created in the Notes app, but in earlier iOS versions it was a little more cumbersome. Users would open the Voice Memos app, record the audio, and then attach that recording to a new note in the Notes app.As of iOS 18, that functionality is directly available in Notes — though it is still somewhat hidden until you know how to find it. The big change compared to the previous Voice Memos app is that Notes can now also provide a written transcript of what was said, if you are using an iPhone 12 or later. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Copyright trial over Apple TV+ show 'Servant' could lead to $81 million fine
Apple TV+ show "Servant" allegedly stole key elements from a 2013 film called "The Truth About Emmanuel," and the trial is back on with a jury set to decide if Apple and M. Night Shyamalan should be fined $81 million.Apple TV+ show 'Servant.' Image source: AppleDirector Francesca Gregorini sued in January 2020, and the case was initially thrown out. She alleges that the dark themes surrounding a reborn doll and similar shots between the properties are enough to suggest copyright infringement.According to a report from Variety, creators of the show and M. Night Shyamalan will testify to a jury. The jurors will watch "The Truth About Emmanuel" and the first three episodes of "Servant" to help make a determination. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Vego Kitchen Composter review: keep food scraps out of the trash
If you're tired of smelly garbage, the Vego Kitchen Composter is a great way to responsibly dispose of food scraps — if you're fine with sacrificing the countertop space.Vego Kitchen ComposterFood waste is a big deal. While the numbers vary depending on your source, it's estimated that the average American throws away anywhere between 200 and 400 pounds of food a year.That might not seem like a big deal because that averages about 0.82 pounds of waste a day — about 2.5 apples or a little less than one russet potato. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Opera browser makes it easier to interact with its AI through a new iOS widget
The popular Opera web browser has just released a major update for its iPhone and iPad app. With the new version, Opera is making it easier for users to interact with Aria – the company’s built-in AI – through new Home Screen widgets. Read on as we detail everything that’s new with the latest Opera update for iOS. more…

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Microsoft: Happy 2025. Here’s 161 Security Updates
Microsoft today unleashed updates to plug a whopping 161 security vulnerabilities in Windows and related software, including three "zero-day" weaknesses that are already under active attack. Redmond's inaugural Patch Tuesday of 2025 bundles more fixes than the company has shipped in one go since 2017.

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A Day in the Life of a Prolific Voice Phishing Crew
Besieged by scammers seeking to phish user accounts over the telephone, Apple and Google frequently caution that they will never reach out unbidden to users this way. However, new details about the internal operations of a prolific voice phishing gang show the group routinely abuses legitimate services at Apple and Google to force a variety of outbound communications to their users, including emails, automated phone calls and system-level messages sent to all signed-in devices.

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U.S. Army Soldier Arrested in AT&T, Verizon Extortions
Federal authorities have arrested and indicted a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier on suspicion of being Kiberphant0m, a cybercriminal who has been selling and leaking sensitive customer call records stolen earlier this year from AT&T and Verizon. As first reported by KrebsOnSecurity last month, the accused is a communications specialist who was recently stationed in South Korea.

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Happy 15th Anniversary, KrebsOnSecurity!
KrebsOnSecurity.com turns 15 years old today! Maybe it's indelicate to celebrate the birthday of a cybercrime blog that mostly publishes bad news, but happily many of 2024's most engrossing security stories were about bad things happening to bad guys. It's also an occasion to note that despite my publishing fewer stories than ever this past year, we somehow managed to attract near record levels of readership (thank you!).

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Web Hacking Service ‘Araneida’ Tied to Turkish IT Firm
Cybercriminals are selling hundreds of thousands of credential sets stolen with the help of a cracked version of Acunetix, a powerful commercial web app vulnerability scanner, new research finds. The cracked software is being resold as a cloud-based attack tool by at least two different services, one of which KrebsOnSecurity traced to an information technology firm based in Turkey.

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How to Lose a Fortune with Just One Bad Click
Adam Griffin is still in disbelief over how quickly he was robbed of nearly $500,000 in cryptocurrencies. A scammer called using a real Google phone number to warn his Gmail account was being hacked, sent email security alerts directly from google.com, and ultimately seized control over the account by convincing him to click "yes" to a Google prompt on his mobile device.

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Apple has 8th generation iPads in stock today for only $229
Apple has Certified Refurbished 8th-generation 10.2" WiFi iPads available on their online store for only $229 in Space Gray or Silver colors. An Apple one-year warranty is included with each iPad, outer cases are new, batteries are new, and shipping is free: - 8th-gen 10.2" 32GB WiFi iPad: $229 These iPads may not last very long, so check Apple's site for the very latest stock status. They are the cheapest iPads for sale today at Apple. Keep an eye on our iPad Price Tracker for the latest prices & sales from Apple and its resellers, updated daily.

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Here’s how to use your Education discount to take up to $300 off new MacBooks at Apple
Need a new Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? If you're a student, teacher, or staff member at any educational institution, you can use your .edu email address when ordering at Apple Education to take up to $300 off the price of a new MacBook. Even parents of students can qualify. Education discounts are also available on most build-to-order options, such as extra RAM and more storage. Here are the Apple Education discounts on standard-configuration MacBooks: - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pros: from $2299, $200 off - 16" M4 Max MacBook Pros: from $3199, $300 off - 14" M4 MacBook Pros: from $1499, $100 off - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pros: from $1849, $150-$200 off - 14" M4 Max MacBook Pros: from $2899, $300 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/256GB: $1199, $100 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/512GB: $1399, $100 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/24GB/512GB: $1599, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/16GB/256GB: $999, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/16GB/512GB: $1199, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/24GB/512GB: $1399, $100 off - 13" M2 MacBook Air/256GB: $899, $100 off Details at Apple Education. Not in the US? Click for the Canada store.

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Here’s how to use your Education discount to take up to $300 off new MacBooks at Apple
Need a new Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Pro? If you're a student, teacher, or staff member at any educational institution, you can use your .edu email address when ordering at Apple Education to take up to $300 off the price of a new MacBook. Even parents of students can qualify. Education discounts are also available on most build-to-order options, such as extra RAM and more storage. Here are the Apple Education discounts on standard-configuration MacBooks: - 16" M4 Pro MacBook Pros: from $2299, $200 off - 16" M4 Max MacBook Pros: from $3199, $300 off - 14" M4 MacBook Pros: from $1499, $100 off - 14" M4 Pro MacBook Pros: from $1849, $150-$200 off - 14" M4 Max MacBook Pros: from $2899, $300 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/256GB: $1199, $100 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/16GB/512GB: $1399, $100 off - 15" M3 MacBook Air/24GB/512GB: $1599, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/16GB/256GB: $999, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/16GB/512GB: $1199, $100 off - 13" M3 MacBook Pro/24GB/512GB: $1399, $100 off - 13" M2 MacBook Air/256GB: $899, $100 off Details at Apple Education. Not in the US? Click for the Canada store.

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Free iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile plus Unlimited service for $65 per month with Infinite Access
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile's networks, is offering a free 128GB iPhone 16, 16 Plus, or 16 Pro including service with their Unlimited plan (30GB of premium data) for a total charge of $65 per month...their Infinite Access Plan. The per month charge includes a new iPhone every year, plus the Unlimited network access charge. No trade-in is required. iPhones with more storage are also available, but for a few dollars more per month. This deal is live today at Boost Mobile. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Free iPhone 16 at Boost Mobile plus Unlimited service for $65 per month with Infinite Access
Boost Mobile, an MVNO using AT&T and T-Mobile's networks, is offering a free 128GB iPhone 16, 16 Plus, or 16 Pro including service with their Unlimited plan (30GB of premium data) for a total charge of $65 per month...their Infinite Access Plan. The per month charge includes a new iPhone every year, plus the Unlimited network access charge. No trade-in is required. iPhones with more storage are also available, but for a few dollars more per month. This deal is live today at Boost Mobile. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our iPhone Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Amazon is offering a $100 discount on 7th-generation 2024 iPad minis
Amazon is offering $100 discounts on Apple's new 2024 WiFi iPad minis, each with free shipping. These are the lowest prices available for new minis anywhere. - 8.3" 128GB WiFi iPad mini: $399, $100 off MSRP - 8.3" 256GB WiFi iPad mini: $499, $100 off MSRP - 8.3" 512GB WiFi iPad mini: $699, $100 off MSRP For the latest prices and sales, see our iPad mini Price Tracker, updated daily.

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14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale today for $150-$200 off MSRP
B&H Photo has 14-inch M4 MacBook Pros on sale right now for $150-$200 off MSRP. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB/Gray): $1449, $150 off MSRP - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/1TB/Gray): $1599, $200 off MSRP - 14" M4 MacBook Pro (24GB/1TB/Gray): $1799, $200 off MSRP These are currently the lowest prices available for new M4-powered 14" MacBook Pros among the Apple retailers we track. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 14-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Clearance M2 Mac minis available starting at only $499
Best Buy has clearance M2 Mac minis available on their online store starting at $499. Sale prices for online orders only: - Mac mini M2 CPU (8GB/256GB): $499, save $100 - Mac mini M2 CPU (8GB/512GB): $599, save $200 For the latest prices and sales, keep an eye on our Mac mini Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Clearance 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB) on sale for $2499, $400 off MSRP
Apple 16" MacBook Pros with M3 Pro CPUs are on clearance sale for $400 off original MSRP at B&H Photo. Snag a Space Black model with 36GB of memory and a 512GB SSD for only $2499, $400 off Apple's original asking price. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 16" M3 Pro MacBook Pro (36GB/512GB): $2499, $400 off MSRP For the latest prices and sales, see our 16" MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Amazon has Apple Watch SE models on sale today for $50 off MSRP
Amazon has Apple Watch SE models on sale right now for $50 off MSRP, each including free shipping. Their prices are the lowest currently available for SE Watches: - 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $199, save $50 - 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS: $299, save $50 - 40mm Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular: $249, save $50 - 44mm Apple Watch SE GPS + Cellular: $279, save $50 Note that their sale prices may be restricted to certain band colors (see their site for details), and stock is likely to come and go. For the latest prices & sales, keep an eye on our Apple Watch Price Tracker, updated daily.

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16-inch M4 Max MacBook Pros are on sale today for $400 off Apple’s MSRP
B&H Photo is offering a $350-$400 discount on new 16-inch MacBook Pros with M4 Max CPUs right now. B&H offers free 1-2 day shipping to most US addresses: - 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (36GB/1TB/Black): $3149, $350 off MSRP - 16" M4 Max MacBook Pro (48GB/1TB/Black): $3599, $400 off MSRP Their prices are the lowest available today for new 16" M4 Max MacBook Pros among the Apple retailers we track. For the latest sales and prices, keep an eye on our 16-inch MacBook Pro Price Tracker, updated daily.

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Clearance Mac mini with M2 Pro CPU on clearance sale for only $899, $400 off original MSRP
Best Buy has clearance M2 Pro Mac minis on sale for $400 off original MSRP, now only $899. Sale price for online orders only, in-store price may vary. Order online, and choose free shipping or free local store pickup (if available): - Mac mini M2 Pro CPU (16GB/512GB): $899, save $400 For the latest prices and sales, keep an eye on our Mac mini Price Tracker, updated daily.

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