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Andrew Orr

Since 2015 Andrew has been writing about Apple, privacy, security, and at one point even Android. You can find him most places online under the username @andrewornot.

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Update Google Chrome ASAP to Patch Two Zero Days

Two zero days in Chrome, CVE-2020-16013 and CVE-2020-16017, are “high severity” in nature and users should update the browser as soon as possible. The The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) says the security flaws are actively being exploited in the wild.

I can confirm that CVE-2020-16013 relates to the V8 JavaScript engine for Chrome and involves an incorrectly handled security check. Exploitation would most likely require an attacker to direct the victim to a malicious web page.

CVE-2020-16017, on the other hand, would appear to be a memory corruption vulnerability within the Chrome website sandboxing feature known as Site Isolation.

MacFamily Tree 9 Introduces macOS Big Sur Support

Briefly shown off during Apple’s M1 Mac event, Synium Software announced the immediate availability of MacFamilyTree for macOS Big Sur and Apple’s just announced Macs with M1 chip. MacFamilyTree is a modern and sophisticated genealogy application for macOS and an easy way of recording cornerstones in your family history. Get an overview of where you hail from and maybe enthuse your relatives about exploring your family’s past at your upcoming family reunion. 

Synium Software announces the immediate availability of MacFamilyTree for macOS Big Sur and Apple’s just announced Macs with M1 chip. MacFamilyTree is a modern and sophisticated genealogy application for macOS and an easy way of recording cornerstones in your family history. Get an overview of where you hail from and maybe enthuse your relatives about exploring your family’s past at your upcoming family reunion.

Christmas 2020: Raspberry Pi Christmas Shopping Guide

The company behind Raspberry Pi has put together its Christmas shopping guide for 2020. It’s of course Pi-focused but the compact computer may already be a good gift for the techie in your life.

We’ve got ideas for the gamers in your life, what to get for the Raspberry Pi “superfan” who has everything, and options that allow you to keep giving all year round.

Facebook Credit Card Scam Exposed via Data Leak

A phishing and credit card fraud operation has been targeting Facebook users and was recently uncovered due to an exposed database.

The fraudsters used the stolen login credentials to share spam comments on Facebook posts via the victims hacked account, directing people to their network of scam websites. These websites all eventually led to a fake Bitcoin trading platform used to scam people out of ‘deposits’ of at least €250.

However, the day after we discovered the database, it was attacked by the ongoing widespread Meow cyberattack, which completely wiped all its data.

Vertafore Data Breach Affects 27.7 Million Texan Drivers

Insurance software company Vertafore disclosed a data breach in which an unknown third-party accessed the personal information of 27.7 million drivers in Texas.

The incident is believed to have taken place sometime between March 11 and August 1, and happened as a result of human error when three data files were inadvertently stored in an unsecured external storage service.

Exposed data included Texas driver license numbers, names, dates of birth, addresses, and vehicle registration histories.

iPhone 12 Pro Camera Scores 128 in DxOMark Review

The iPhone 12 Pro camera received a score of 128 in a review by DxOMark. This places the camera in fourth place.

With a DXOMARK Camera overall score of 128, the Apple iPhone 12 Pro makes it into the top five in our ranking, improving on last year’s 11 Pro Max by four points and replacing it as the best Apple device in our database. The overall score is founded on a high Photo score of 135 and a very good Video score of 112. With a score of 66, Zoom is the area where the iPhone 12 Pro loses some points against the best in class, mainly due to its tele-lens offering only a 2x optical magnification.

‘Alba: A Wildlife Adventure’ Launches December 11 on Apple Arcade

From the BAFTA-Award winning studio behind Monument Valley and Assemble with Care comes something entirely new. Join Alba as she visits her grandparents on a Mediterranean island. She is ready for a peaceful summer of wildlife exploration with her friend Ines, but when she sees an animal in danger, she realises she needs to do something about it. This is truly a Mediterranean paradise if you ignore all the litter! From the idyllic beaches to the ancient castle overlooking the town a whole island is ready to be explored. With Ines and your grandfather – who is a total bird nerd – by your side, you can start the movement to save the island. Maybe even the world after that. | Apple Arcade

Speck Launches Presidio Clickflip AirPods Pro Case

Speck recently introduced a Presidio Clickflip AirPods Pro case. It provides 360-degree protection to secure against dust and debris. It is the first ever Speck product to have an IP5X dust protection certified rating. It was designed with a unique locking mechanism that keeps the AirPods secure in the case and prevents scattering when dropped. Grippy texture and vibrant color options make feeling or looking for your AirPods in a bag or crowded space easy. And like its line of iPhone cases, Presidio Clickflip contains built-in antimicrobial treatment from Microban. Microban delivers a 99% reduction in stain and odor-causing bacteria on the case, creating a cleaner surface. This AirPods Pro case comes in three colors and costs US$39.95.

Photo Editor ‘Darkroom’ is Ready for M1

The latest in the wave of M1-ready Mac apps is Darkroom, a photo management and editing app.

Everything is updated to reflect the new macOS Big Sur aesthetic with native components like the new translucent sidebar and native window toolbars. We also optimized all interactions for mouse, trackpad, & keyboard input, sparing no detail in making Darkroom feel at home on the Mac.