Mistyping a number in Apple’s Calculator app on your iPhone or iPad doesn’t mean starting over thanks to a simple swipe gesture. Check out our video to learn how.
NFTs Aren't Going Away, They are Important Tools of Digital Ownership
Alexander Lange wrote an essay on NFTs, saying that they aren’t a fluke and will change the way we experience and own digital media.
Just like DeFi’s money legos are about to revolutionize finance, media legos will deeply alter the social layers of the web. They will change how creators issue, distribute, and monetize their work while defining new rules for content exploration, collecting, and community building.
I agree. NFTs aren’t going away. In an age where possessions such as music, photos, books, videos, etc. are being stored and kept in “the cloud,” we have to find ways to prove that we own these things. Right now, ownership is tied to identities like an Apple ID. I can prove that that eBook is mine because it’s in my purchase history. But what if I export that eBook to a flash drive as a backup? Or what if my Apple ID is deleted? It also facilitates direct creator-to-buyer transactions. I can buy an eBook from an author without needing a middleman like Apple Books, and its accompanying NFT proves my ownership. That’s what crypto is all about: Cutting out middlemen like banks and corporations.
Chinese Hackers May be Stealing Data to Feed an Artificial Intelligence
Dina Temple-Raston of NPR published a fascinating investigation regarding the Microsoft Exchange attack earlier in 2021.
Officials believe that the breach was in the service of something bigger: China’s artificial intelligence ambitions. The Beijing leadership aims to lead the world in a technology that allows computers to perform tasks that traditionally required human intelligence — such as finding patterns and recognizing speech or faces.
US Air Force Contract Aims to Improve Blockchain Security
The United States Air Force will use Constellation’s Hypergraph Network to provide data security with the Department of Defense’s commercial partners.
Constellation said it had been working with Kinnami Software Corporation to develop an end-to-end data security solution using blockchain encryption and distributed data management for the United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command’s 618th Air Operations Center, and a Civil Reserve Air Fleet partner. According to the platform, its goal is to securely exchange data with commercial partners on missions involving the operations of aircraft and ships under contract to the Department of Defense, or DoD.
New Snapchat Scan Feature Can Detect Clothes, Plants, Wine, and More
Snap released a new augmented reality feature on Thursday. Called Scan, it can detect objects in the physical world.
This latest version of Scan, which Snap previewed at its developer conference earlier this year, adds detection for dog breeds, plants, wine, cars, and food nutrition info. The majority of Scan’s features are powered by other companies; the app Vivino is behind the wine scanning feature, for example. Soon Allrecipes will power a Scan feature that suggests recipes to make based on a specific food ingredient. Snap plans to keep adding more abilities to Scan over time using a mix of outside partners and what it builds in-house.
Data Leak From Chinese Company 'EskyFun' Affects 1 Million Gamers
The research team at vpnMentor discovered an unsecured server from Chinese mobile gaming company EskyFun. It exposed data for over a million Android gamers.
The resulting records contained a lot of sensitive information, including: IP address, IMEI number, Mobile application package doing the tracking, Device screen size – whether a device is ‘rooted’*, Device model, Phone number (if any), Platform (Android/iOS), NetType (WiFi or cellular), Events (open,login,level_up, etc).
Not so fun anymore.
How to Join Wi-Fi Networks from Control Center on Your iPhone
You can join Wi-Fi networks from Control Center on your iPhone instead of going to the Wi-Fi options in the Settings app. Watch our video to learn how.
Apple TV Hacks You Should Know
Learn about auto-play, minimizing credits, fast-fast forward, and more in this mini-segment from Mac Geek Gab 885. This Apple Discussion has even more details.
Smash Hit Asphalt 8: Airborne Racing to Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade might have been launched to help new and exclusive games, but Cupertino has been adding some really hot titles to the subscription gaming service. On August 27, 2021, you’ll be able to download the popular racing game Asphalt 8: Airborne through Apple Arcade. Sure, the franchise is up to Asphalt 9, but this version won’t tempt you with in-app purchases.
One interesting aspect of having Asphalt 8 available on Apple Arcade is the change in the gameplay model. Current Asphalt games (including Asphalt 8) are free-to-play, meaning that anyone can download them without paying, but the game offers multiple items that can only be obtained through in-app purchases.
It’s Easy for Minors to Bypass App Store Age Restrictions
On Wednesday, the Campaign for Accountability published a report that shows how easy it is for minors to bypass App Store age restrictions.
Using an Apple ID for a simulated 14-year-old, TTP examined nearly 80 age-restricted apps on the App Store and discovered that the underage user could easily evade the apps’ age restrictions in the vast majority of cases, often with minimal effort.
Your Internet Activity May be Traceable Even Through a VPN
Netflow data refers to IP network traffic that can be collected as it enters or exits an interface. Using this aggregate data, it’s possible to trace network traffic even if a person uses a VPN. Internet service providers sell this information to third parties.
At a high level, netflow data creates a picture of traffic flow and volume across a network. It can show which server communicated with another, information that may ordinarily only be available to the server owner or the ISP carrying the traffic. Crucially, this data can be used for, among other things, tracking traffic through virtual private networks, which are used to mask where someone is connecting to a server from, and by extension, their approximate physical location.
Social Engineering Majority of Business Attacks in 2020
Speaking of social engineering, new data from Atlas VPN shows this kind of attack was responsible for the majority of business breaches in 2020.
According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, social engineering cyberattacks were the primary cause of company breaches in 2020 at 14%, followed by advanced persistent threats, unpatched systems and ransomware. As a result, learning to prevent social engineering attacks needs to be a top priority for businesses.
This App Helps Kabul Residents Avoid Danger
A homegrown app brings around 20 young Afghan tech workers together to track the advance of the Taliban in Kabul. They broadcast real-time reports of gunfire, explosions, and traffic jams across the city to help other Kabul residents stay safe. Ehtesab is the app helping Kabul residents steer clear of dangerous situations. This is definitely great use of crowdsourced information in a dangerous environment.
“We just want to alleviate some of the anxieties that Afghans have in these uncertain and volatile times,” app founder Sara Wahedi said. “We will find different ways of garnering data about the city and security… That’s the beauty of tech, it knows no borders,” she said.
OnlyFans Has ‘Secured Assurances’ and Suspends Porn Ban
Days after it announced that it will ban sexually explicit content on its platform, OnlyFans has reversed its decision. The pressure for this ban came from “banking partners and payout providers.” But as TechCrunch notes, the decision has been “suspended” which could mean the ban may not fully be canceled.
In response to the planned policy change, some creators had already deleted their OnlyFans accounts and moved to alternate services. With this recent reversal, creators will have to decide between returning to the platform or leaving it altogether for a rival service.
Also, not to be that guy but banks exerting financial pressure in cases like this is exactly what cryptocurrency can help with.
Get Data Easily While Traveling Using An eSIM!
While traveling, use your eSIM for mobile data! Find out how in this Mac Geek Gab 885 Mini-Segment.
How to Use Apple Maps New Business Ratings
Apple Maps has a new way to rate businesses. It’s easy to do, and we have a video showing you how.
How to Customize Control Center on Your iPhone and iPad
Even though Control Center has been part of iOS for years, a lot of people don’t know that it’s customizable. Watch our video to learn how to include just the items you want in Control Center on your iPhone and iPad.
What Does Apple’s M1 Chip do Differently Than Other Chips?
In his latest blog post, Howard Oakley has examined the M1 chip to find out what features set it apart from other chips.
The M1 doesn’t integrate main memory, though, which is contained within the package. It’s also unusual in incorporating many coprocessors in addition to the GPU, which provide state-of-the-art facilities for features such as deep learning using neural networks.
IBM’s AI-Powered Chip Can Help Detect Fraud
IBM revealed its new Telum processor at the Hot Chips semiconductor conference. It claims it can detect fraud in real time.
IBM says this could lead to “a potentially new era of prevention of fraud at scale.” Although credit card fraud is the most direct application, Telum’s onboard A.I. accelerator can handle other workloads as well. Using machine learning, it can conduct risk analysis, detect money laundering, and handle loan processing, among other things.
Misconfigured Microsoft Power Apps Leaked 38 Million Database Records
Over a thousand web apps from Microsoft’s Power Apps platform have leaked 38 million records. This data includes COVID-19 contact tracing.
The data included a range of sensitive information, from people’s phone numbers and home addresses to social security numbers and COVID-19 vaccination status.
The incident affected major companies and organizations, including American Airlines, Ford, the transportation and logistics company J.B. Hunt, the Maryland Department of Health, the New York City Municipal Transportation Authority, and New York City public schools.
Reading AirTag NFC's: A Hidden Feature
Did you know Apple Support says you can read the NFC data in an AirTag just by holding it to the top of your iPhone? Learn more in Mac Geek Gab 885, and check out this week from Dave Mark too!
USD Coin Will Be Backed By Pure Cash and US Treasury Bonds
As a stablecoin, USD Coin (USDC) is pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar. The reserves of currency upholding this value will only be cash and bonds going forward.
Circle reserves expanded beyond cash and cash equivalents in May, 2021, and the company provided a more detailed breakdown of reserve composition in July, adding clarity and insight into the funds backing USDC. Mindful of community sentiment, our commitment to trust and transparency, and an evolving regulatory landscape, Circle, with the support of Centre and Coinbase, has announced that it will now hold the USDC reserve entirely in cash and short duration US Treasuries.
Indie Publishing Platform ‘Substack’ to Accept Bitcoin Payments
Bitcoin payment processor OpenNode announced on Monday its integration with Substack, an online publishing platform. OpenNode will power both on-chain and Lightning Network Bitcoin payments.
Working together, OpenNode and Substack are starting by making instant, low cost payments available to a select group of crypto-focused publications. Readers will be able to use Bitcoin to pay for subscriptions to these select publications, and the publications will retain earnings in Bitcoin.
Support US National Parks by Using Apple Pay
The US National Park Service turns 104 on August 25, 2021. In honor of the occasion, Apple has announced a donation program, a new Apple Watch Activity Challenge, and special content collections to allow you to experience the parks and learn more about what makes them the amazing national resource that we often take for granted. From August 24 to August 27, Apple will make a $10 donation to the National Park Foundation for each purchase made with Apple Pay on its website, in the Apple Store app, or inside any Apple Store in the US. In years past, Cupertino’s offered much less of a donation per purchase, so this is pretty cool.
Our national parks strengthen our connection to nature, to one another, and to the soul of our nation. We’re excited to continue building on our four-year partnership with the National Park Foundation, and to support their work to preserve our parks for generations to come.
Tim Cook, Apple CEO