Hackers tricked Instagram AI into letting them take over high-profile accounts [Video]
Hackers managed to trick Meta’s AI-powered support bot into allowing them to take over a number of Instagram accounts, including some high-profile ones. This included accounts belonging to the White House, US Space Force, and security researcher Jane Wong. On a more positive note, the social network is experimenting with a way of blocking teenage users from repeated exposure to content likely to impact their mental health … more…

Read more »

Withings unveils more affordable smart scale with body scanning feature, details here
Withings is making its body scanning feature more affordable with the new BodyFit smart scale. This mid-range model offers features similar to the pricier Body Scan model, but for a lower starting price. more…

Read more »

iPhone 18 Pro battery capacity could offer far more modest gains this year
It’s long been rumored that the iPhone 18 Pro Max battery capacity would be the largest ever seen in an iPhone, with a report back in February suggesting that it could get close to 5200mAh. The same leaker has now reported on the iPhone 18 Pro capacity and is suggesting that we will see only very modest gains over last year’s model … more…

Read more »

iPhone 18 Pro will have only a fractionally higher capacity battery
A new leak claims to have details of the battery capacity for the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro, and while it continues the pattern of improving every year, this time Apple has managed only a minor increase.Mockup of a Dark Cherry iPhone 18 Pro - original image credit: Wesley Hilliard, recoloring by William GallagherBack in February 2026, a leak claimed to show that the iPhone 18 Pro Max would have longer battery life than its predecessor, but only by a small amount. Now according to a leaker with only a mixed track record, the same is true for the iPhone 18 Pro.Specifically, leaker Fixed Focus Digital reports that for the US, the iPhone 18 Pro will have a 4,288 mAh battery. For China, which still requires space for a physical SIM card, the capacity will be 4,056 mAh. Rumor Score: 🤔 Possible Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

Amazon Prime Day 2026 dates announced, avoiding major event clashes
The dates for Amazon Prime Day 2026 have now been announced, with the company stating it is bringing the event forward from its traditional July timing in order to avoid clashing with a couple of major events. Amazon had previously announced earlier timings but not stated the dates. The company has now said that it wanted to avoid the FIFA World Cup and the 250th anniversary US Independence Day … more…

Read more »

Apple’s jam-packed June: Here’s what’s coming at WWDC and more
Macworld There are two months on the Apple calendar that stand out above all others: September and June. Of course, September is when we get new iPhones, but June is when we find out all about the version of iOS that will be running on them. We’re talking about Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which kicks off with a keynote this year on June 8, followed by the first developer betas of the new operating system updates. And this year’s show will be massive. Along with the usual new features and fixes, all eyes will be on Apple this year because it is expected to introduce, at long last, a massive overhaul to Siri and the way AI is used throughout iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Here’s everything we expect at the big show and throughout the month. New hardware releases We’ve been waiting for a few Mac updates for some time now. The M5 Mac mini, the M5 Ultra update to the Mac Studio, and M5 iMacs are all supposed to be on the way… eventually. The most recent rumors claimed they would launch in the first half of this year, which would normally mean at or around WWDC. Macs are a good fit for WWDC, an event focused on developers, and Apple has often used the stage to announce new models. But this isn’t a normal year. If you haven’t heard, we’re in the middle of a huge supply shortage for key components, especially RAM. Certain Mac models are very hard to find—it can take weeks or months to get a new Mac mini, for example. Apple likely has most, if not all, of these new Macs essentially ready to go, but won’t release them while key components are in such short supply that most customers won’t be able to get one. It’s also possible, though unlikely, that Apple will preview some of its upcoming products powered by the new Siri, such as the long-rumored “home hub” device or cameras. These products wouldn’t be able to release until the fall anyway, but Apple has used the WWDC stage to preview new platforms months before they ship, including HomePod and Vision Pro. So an early look at one or more of the rumored products is possible. Apps and software updates OS 26.6 updates: The beta tests of the OS 26.6 updates started on May 26, and the final release should be in June sometime. We’re expecting nothing more than bug fixes and security updates in this one, with the possible exception of supporting new hardware if Apple releases new Macs or something. OS 27: On June 8, the big OS 27 updates will be announced at Apple’s WWDC keynote, including iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS. For more on what we expect from these updates, check out our iOS 27 guide and macOS 27 guide, but you can expect a heavy dose of Apple Intelligence features, including our first actual look at the new Siri. OS 27 developer beta: Following the keynote, Apple will likely make the developer beta available immediately. Apple typically releases two or three rounds of developer-only betas before the first public beta, which will probably come in July. Services Apple TV+ Here are the shows, series, and movies we expect to release on Apple TV+ in June. If you want to know what’s coming later, check our full guide to upcoming Apple TV+ content. Cape Fear: A 10-episode limited series inspired by Martin Scorsese’s 1991 remake, a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna and Tom Bowden when Max Cady, the notorious killer they are responsible for putting behind bars, is let out of prison. June 5 Sugar (season 2): John Sugar is an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. June 19 Apple Arcade Apple releases most Apple Arcade games around the first Friday of each month. Check our Apple Arcade FAQ for a full list of Apple Arcade games and more details on the service. Occasionally, games are released with no forewarning, but you’ll usually see next month’s releases listed in the Coming Soon section. Coffee Inc 2+: Build your coffee empire in this business simulation game. June 4 FreeCell Solitaire: Card Game+: The classic one-player card game brought to your iPhone. June 4 Mini Football Legends: Compete with teams from all over the world in this arcade-y soccer game. June 4 My Talking Tom 2+: It’s more My Talking Tom with your virtual pet cartoon cat! June 4

Read more »

Apple Intelligence is coming at WWDC. Just don’t call it AI
Macworld Once again, the clock on the wall is telling the Macalope it’s June, and that means WWDC is almost here again! You know, the Macalope really needs to take that clock in. It’s just a regular analog clock, it should not be whispering event dates, secrets and veiled threats to the Macalope. He thinks it might be possessed. To be honest, expectations for WWDC this year seem pretty low. Jason Snell just wants Apple to get real and show some practical features for users, AI-based or not. Filipe Esposito doesn’t think Apple’s going to announce any new hardware. Of course, developers will probably walk away with some neat new tools that help them make apps, but what about the rest of us? If WWDC often isn’t the place for Apple to announce new products, it is the place for it to announce new platforms and services developers can take advantage of. This could put the spotlight on Apple’s expected push in home automation. But while Tim Cook may insist great progress is being made on enhanced Siri, it’s not expected to arrive until later this year, which put a host of products in limbo. Which, come to think of it, is where the Macalope bought that clock. Oh, it’s possessed, alright. The company’s long-rumored “HomePad” home command-center device has been sitting around reading magazines for months, just waiting for its chance to take the stage. Apple could pull a Vision Pro with this device by unveiling it and whatever affordances it offers developers, then shipping it later in the year once it’s able to get conversational Siri to be able to have something one could vaguely call a conversation. If you have a teenager in the house, you know what the Macalope means: grunt a couple of things in acknowledgement, grudgingly turn the lights on, or looking something up before stomping off to their room and slamming the door. That kind of conversational level. But at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Apple should be careful with the AI word. As the Macalope said last week, Apple would be well served to smell the zeitgeist (it smells like flop sweat and gasoline!) and not shove “AI” into every other sentence as Google did at I/O. In the last seven days, public opinion of AI has not appeared to have gotten any better. “US students on why they booed their pro-AI graduation speakers: ‘They’re not reading the room’” “Harvard Graduation Speaker Unloads on AI in Profanity-Loaded Tirade, Prompting Cheers From Students: ‘I’m Here to Tell You the Mission of Your Generation Is to Destroy AI’” Doctors are reportedly booing it and now it’s even making developers mad. On Monday, Microsoft switched Github Copilot billing from a flat fee per month to token-based billing, causing fees to jump drastically. But the Macalope’s favorite is this: “Hackers Simply Asked Meta AI to Give Them Access to High-Profile Instagram Accounts. It Worked” Yes, after blithely turning support for Facebook and Instagram over to its AI back in March, a number of accounts have been hijacked out from under their users. Hackers say that they used Meta’s AI support chatbot to break into a host of high-profile Instagram profiles by asking the support bot to change the email address associated with the target account. The cherry on top of this turd sundae? Users who have had their accounts stolen say that there is no way to escalate their problem to a human. An entire culinary school of chefs kissing. (Presumably kissing the tips of their fingers, not each other, but the Macalope doesn’t judge.) If you’d like to receive regular news and updates to your inbox, sign up for our newsletters, including The Macalope and Apple Breakfast, David Price’s weekly, bite-sized roundup of all the latest Apple news and rumors.Foundry Who is WWDC for? Well, first and foremost it should be for developers. It’s right in the name, even when you squeeze the two Ws together like Apple does. Second, it should be for customers, those of us who use the platforms and features Apple announces at WWDC. While developers want AI to help them do their jobs, customers do not really care for it. That can make messaging at a developers conference tricky. Added to that combination, there’s a third group that apparently wants to hear AI all the time: investors. Apple should absolutely not try to appease this group when crafting its WWDC message. First of all, they’re an over-indulged group to begin with. But second, their interests seem oddly counter to what Apple’s customers actually want. The Macalope doesn’t expect any college graduation-style booing at WWDC, but if the message leans too far in promoting AI technology rather than promoting what practical features Apple is delivering, the booing might come after.

Read more »

Apple @ Work Podcast: A new era for Jamf
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 & 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. In this episode of Apple @ Work, Beth Tschida, the new CEO at Jamf, joins the show to talk about what’s next for the company in the AI era. more…

Read more »

MacBook Neo is so popular, Dell is baiting PC shoppers again
Macworld The MacBook Neo shook up the budget laptop market with its combination of performance, design quality, and price, and it’s “captivating customers all around the world,” according to Apple CEO Tim Cook. Windows PC makers, who sat around putting out crap for too long, are scrambling to do something while Apple takes away their sales. The latest company to respond to the MacBook Neo is Dell, which this week announced the XPS 13 laptop. Priced at $599 for students ($699 regular price), the XPS 13 looks like a quality laptop. It has an aluminum case (to the disappointment of hardcore PC fanboys), and a couple of nice features that Dell is happy to point out aren’t on the Neo: a backlit keyboard and an OLED display with a variable refresh rate. The funny thing about Dell’s announcement is that it is basically admitting that Apple forced them to do better with their budget laptops. “Apple’s MacBook Neo is a capable machine, and its arrival confirms that there’s real appetite for premium quality at accessible prices,” Dell states in its press release. In other words, Dell wasn’t going to offer premium quality at an affordable price until Apple forced them to do so. Because it didn’t think people wanted them, I guess? “Where Dell differs is what we think premium [emphasis Dell’s] means at this price point and what we were willing to build to deliver it.” Which is basically saying that before the MacBook Neo came along, Dell had a different idea of what premium meant at this price point. That idea changed, thanks to Apple. The $599 XPS 13 uses the new Intel Core Series 3 Wildcat Lake processor, and according to benchmarks spotted by TweakTown, it has a multi-core advantage of about 22 percent over the A18 Pro in the MacBook Neo while the two chips have roughly the same single-core scores. That means that you could notice a difference when using apps that take advantage of multi-core processing, such as video or audio editors. But when using the apps you use most frequently—word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, email clients, etc.—there won’t be a noticeable difference. At least not when it comes to processing power. Memory is another story. The XPS 13 starts at 8GB of RAM, the same as the Neo. You might remember that PC fanboys immediately attacked the Neo for having such a small amount of RAM when most Windows laptops have 16GB or 32GB. What those arguments fail to consider is that macOS is heavily optimized for small amounts of RAM. I was able to make basic edits to a 4K video in Adobe Premiere without a problem on a MacBook Neo. But with Windows, 8GB of RAM is, according to Microsoft, “adequate for basic use,” while 16GB of RAM is the recommended baseline memory. Which leads to the question, after weeks of criticism, why is 8GB of RAM suddenly OK for a Windows laptop? Will the 8GB of RAM negate the purported multi-core performance gains of the Intel Core Series 3? Since the XPS 13 isn’t shipping yet, we don’t know, but I’m betting it will have a negative effect, if not out of the box, then after a few months of use. Oh, one more thing. The $599 student pricing for the XPS 13 is only available until November 20. After that, it’s $699, whether you’re a student or not. Apple’s student price doesn’t have an expiration date, so it’s either $499 for 256GB of storage or $599 with Touch ID and a 512GB SSD now and after November 20. That’s nice if, say, you don’t need a new laptop right now or want to wait for the second-gen model, which is almost certain to have an A19 Pro processor with 12GB of RAM. Ultimately, Dell and all the other PC makers can step up their game (finally) and make better hardware, but in the end, they still run Windows. Windows’ ads and bloatware will look particularly nice on the XPS 13’s OLED display. Also, that multi-core performance advantage of the Core Series 3 will surely be hindered by Windows 11’s Copilot, which Microsoft itself admits is so bloated that it hinders performance. So students, the choice is clear: Spend $599 on a MacBook Neo with an optimized operating system built to run on 8GB of RAM, or buy an 8GB laptop running an OS built for 16GB of RAM before the offer expires on November 20.

Read more »

X-VPN Completed No-Logs Audit—Why It Matters for All Users
Macworld June 2, 2026 X-VPN completed an independent no-logs audit conducted by one of the Big Four auditing firms under ISAE 3000 (Revised). Completed on February 28, 2026, the audit examined statements in X-VPN’s Privacy Policy related to user data processing and the corresponding practices behind them. Based on the audit result, X-VPN does not track, collect, or store data that could identify users or link them to their online activities. For all users, that matters because privacy claims carry more weight when they are backed by independent audits. In a category built on trust, the audit gives users added confidence that X-VPN’s no-logs commitments are supported by reviewed policies and practices, not just product messaging. X-VPN’s Plans and Features GET X-VPN NOW (function () { document.querySelector("#sticky-promo-block a").addEventListener("click", function(e) { const debug = document.location.host.search(/lndo.site|go-vip.net/) !== -1; const text = this.closest("#sticky-promo-block").querySelector("p.promo-title").textContent; const data = { event: "stickyConversionUnitClick", eventCategory: "Sticky Conversion", eventAction: "Click", eventLabel: text }; if(debug)console.log("Sticky Conversion CLick - pushing to dataLayer: ", data); dataLayer.push(data); return true; }); })(); Why No-Logs Claims Matter To VPN Users For VPN users, a no-logs policy is not a minor product claim, it is one of the clearest signals of whether a service can be trusted with online activity. People use VPNs to reduce exposure, protect their browsing, and keep sensitive activity from being recorded or linked back to them. That is why an independent no-logs audit matters: it gives users stronger assurance that these privacy commitments are backed by reviewed policies and operational practices, rather than left as statements on a website alone. Just as importantly, an audit helps turn a broad privacy promise into something more concrete. Instead of asking users to take no-logs claims at face value, it provides outside scrutiny of whether the provider’s systems and processes are aligned with what its privacy policy says. For users, that means more confidence that their activity is not being tracked, collected, or retained in ways that could later be tied back to them. What X-VPN Does Not Collect X-VPN The audit verifies that X-VPN does not collect, store, or track data that could identify users or link them to their online activities. That includes user IP addresses, destination IP addresses, websites visited, browsing history, VPN server information, DNS queries, downloaded content, VPN connection timestamps, and sensitive payment details. X-VPN also offers a free version, and the free service follows the same strict no-log policy as paid plans. In other words, those same categories of activity data are not collected on the free version either. For users, that matters because these are the kinds of data points that can reveal where traffic came from, where it went, what was accessed, and when activity took place. When a VPN does not retain that information, there is far less risk of browsing activity being reconstructed, exposed, or tied back to an individual account or session. In practical terms, that is what gives a no-logs commitment real privacy value. What X-VPN Does Collect The audit also verifies that X-VPN processes only the minimum user information needed to provide the service. This includes an email address (you can use a fake or disposable email address), an encrypted password, an order ID, which is the basic billing detail, and historical order records. In addition, X-VPN collects aggregated, non-identifiable operational data such as CPU usage, memory consumption, and service availability to help maintain performance and reliability. That distinction matters. A strong privacy approach is not about claiming that nothing is ever processed at all, but about limiting data handling to what is necessary for account access, billing, and service operations. For users, that means the focus stays on essential service data rather than activity-based data that could reveal who they are and what they do online. What the Audit Covered The audit covered five core areas tied to X-VPN’s privacy and governance framework. First, it verified that X-VPN does not store or record sensitive user activity data. Second, X-VPN processes only the minimum user information required to provide the service. Third, it covered security and compliance across VPN servers, core databases, and code throughout key stages of deployment, operation, and maintenance. Fourth, it reviewed X-VPN’s Privacy Policy and its execution management remains aligned in practice. Fifth, it included compliance around the DPO Group and related oversight mechanisms. Taken together, the scope shows that this was not limited to a single privacy statement in isolation. It connected X-VPN’s no-logs commitments with the operational, technical, and governance measures that support them. X-VPN’s Ongoing Commitment to Transparency and Security X-VPN views this audit not as a one-time milestone, but as part of a broader commitment to long-term transparency, ongoing review, and continued improvement. The company plans to continue advancing compliance and security governance on a reasonable cycle, with further audits and related updates released over time as progress is made. That broader approach also reflects a longer-term effort to respond to the security gaps and information blind spots that users care about most. Rather than treating those concerns as one-off questions, X-VPN is placing them on an ongoing governance roadmap and addressing them through actions and updates that users can continue to follow. This commitment is also visible in X-VPN’s continued work on privacy and security features. Alongside regular updates to its Transparency Report, the company continues to strengthen its privacy offering with newer security-focused capabilities such as post-quantum encryption and features like Tor over VPN. In that context, the audit is not the end of the story, but part of a larger effort to keep improving how privacy commitments are implemented, maintained, and communicated to users. How Users Can View the Audit Report Users can view the audit report by logging into their X-VPN account. Making the report available through the account helps give users a direct way to review the result for themselves, rather than relying only on summary messaging or product-page claims. That access also supports the broader goal of transparency. For users, it means the audit is not just a headline announcement, but a documented result they can check directly as part of evaluating X-VPN’s privacy commitments. Conclusion X-VPN’s no-logs audit marks an important step in strengthening transparency around how user data is handled. For users, that matters because trust is at the core of any VPN service. In that sense, this audit is both a meaningful result in itself and part of X-VPN’s broader effort to keep improving privacy, security, and accountability over time. X-VPN’s plans and features can be explored here. About X-VPN X-VPN is a global privacy and security service operated by LIGHTNINGLINK NETWORKS PTE. LTD., based in Singapore. With over 10,000 servers across 80 countries, X-VPN provides encrypted internet access using AES‑256 encryption, supporting users in protecting data, and maintaining anonymity online. The company enforces a strict no-logs policy, ensuring that no identifiable data is ever stored or shared. Media Contact: sandramitchell@media.xvpn.io Source: X-VPN

Read more »

Spend $35 to block ads, hide your browsing, and quiet the online chaos with this AdGuard suite
Macworld TL;DR: Get a five-year AdGuard VPN subscription plus a lifetime AdGuard Family ad blocker plan for $34.97 through June 7. Using the internet these days can feel like walking through a mall where every store is yelling at you, someone’s following you around taking notes, and half the doors lead to suspicious pop-ups. That’s where the AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security Suite comes in, available for $34.97 through June 7 (MSRP $439.39). It tackles two of the internet’s biggest headaches at once — privacy and nonstop digital clutter. The VPN side helps lock down your browsing with encrypted connections, unlimited data, and access to 60+ server locations worldwide. Meanwhile, the AdGuard Family Plan works behind the scenes to block banners, autoplay ads, trackers, and even phishing attempts before they get annoying. It also includes parental controls, which are especially handy if your household has kids who somehow find the weirdest corners of the internet in under six seconds. The setup works across desktop and mobile devices, supports multiple simultaneous connections, and doesn’t require you to become a cybersecurity expert overnight just to use it. If your browser tabs currently feel like a demolition derby of ads and tracking scripts, this AdGuard security bundle is on sale for $34.97 through June 7. AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security SuiteSee Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

Read more »

iPhone 18 Pro may skip a major battery upgrade yet again
A new leak suggests the iPhone 18 Pro could stick with battery sizes similar to its predecessor, with Apple once again skipping silicon-carbon battery tech. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

Pluribus wins Breakthrough Drama Series at the Gotham Television Awards
Apple TV has added another award to Pluribus’ growing list of wins, with the series taking home a Gotham Television Award tonight. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Apple facing congressional pressure over closure of first unionized US store
Dozens of members of Congress are urging Apple to reconsider its plan to close the Towson Town Center store in Maryland, accusing the company of retaliating against workers at the first Apple Store in the US to unionize. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

Counterpoint: iPhone shipments grew 8% in Latin America during Q1
A new Counterpoint Research report shows Apple saw iPhone shipments grow 8% year over year in Latin America during Q1 2026. Here are the details. more…

Read more »

A free tier for Apple Music might be closer than you think
Apple Music has always been for paid subscribers only, but code in the Apple Music for Android beta suggests that stance could change soon. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

Read more »

40 members of Congress take Towson union's side in letter to Apple's CEO
Congress is increasing its pressure with stronger language in a letter from more members that claims Apple Towson is a "high-performing" store with 100 technologically skilled workers.Apple Towson is closing. Image source: AppleCongress doesn't think Apple should close the Apple Towson store, which also happens to be its first unionized retail store. Nine members said so before, but an additional 39 new members and one returning member have said so again.The letter states outright that the store closure is likely a violation of Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. The union representing the store, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union, filed an unfair labor practice charge against Apple in April. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

#WWDC26 hashmoji now live on X ahead of next week’s keynote
As it has done over the past several years, Apple has kicked off its hashmoji campaign on X for posts containing the #WWDC26 hashtag. more…

Read more »

WWDC 2026 guests can attend special screening of the latest 'Star Wars' movie
Those lucky enough to attend WWDC in person will now have the chance to watch 'The Mandalorian and Grogu' at the Steve Jobs Theater.'The Mandalorian and Grogu' will be screened at WWDC 2026. Image Credit: Lucasfilm.While iOS 27 and a revamped Siri will be the highlight of Apple's annual developer conference, it looks like the Apple Vision Pro will get some praise during the event as well.Jon Favreau, director of The Mandalorian and Grogu, spoke in April 2026 about using the Apple headset to better frame IMAX shots while also cutting costs. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Read more »

9to5Mac Daily: June 1, 2026 – Apple TV and AI glasses rumors
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card.   more…

Read more »