News

Was Your Mac Slow on Thursday? Apple's OCSP Server Was Likely the Cause

Dave Hamilton ·

On Thursday, October 12th, right around 3:30pm EST, Apple’s OCSP server stopped responding. On the surface that doesn’t sound like much, but when you stop and realize this is the server responsible for authenticating the certificates at the core of all your apps, it starts to matter.

And matter it did! For about an hour yesterday, Mac apps wouldn’t launch (or would launch slowly), rebooting was super-slow (for the same reason), and even Zoom connections took minutes to connect.

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Facebook Credit Card Scam Exposed via Data Leak

Andrew Orr ·

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.

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Vertafore Data Breach Affects 27.7 Million Texan Drivers

Andrew Orr ·

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.

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iPhone 12 Pro Camera Scores 128 in DxOMark Review

Andrew Orr ·

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.

Cool Stuff Found

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

Andrew Orr ·

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

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Disney+ Surpasses 73 Million Paying Subscribers

Charlotte Henry ·

As of October 3, Disney+ had surpassed 73 million paying subscribers, Variety reported. Around 42.6 million are estimated to Apple TV+.

That marks a leap from the 60.5 million paying subscribers that Disney Plus had when Disney last reported earnings in early August. Hulu now has 36.6 million total paying subscribers, up from 35.5 million in late June, while ESPN Plus has grown to 10.3 million subscribers, up from 8.5 million reported last quarter… That marks a leap from the 60.5 million paying subscribers that Disney Plus had when Disney last reported earnings in early August. Hulu now has 36.6 million total paying subscribers, up from 35.5 million in late June, while ESPN Plus has grown to 10.3 million subscribers, up from 8.5 million reported last quarter.

Speck Launches Presidio Clickflip AirPods Pro Case
Cool Stuff Found

Speck Launches Presidio Clickflip AirPods Pro Case

Andrew Orr ·

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.

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iOS 14.3 to Suggest Third-Party Apps During Setup

Charlotte Henry ·

iOS 14.3 is going to suggest third-party apps to users when they set up their iPhone or iPad. 9to5 Mac discovered a menu doing this in the latest beta version of the software.

This new section of the setup process is not intended to be shown to all users. Instead, the code says that it will be enabled only for some countries based on local laws. “In compliance with regional legal requirements, continue to view available apps to download,” the code says. It’s unclear in which regions Apple will enable this new feature, but it will most likely be first implemented in European Union countries.

 

TMO Deals

Wireless Portable Battery with Its Own Charging Dock: $49.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a deal on the Naztech 2-in-1 Charging Dock, which is really a 10,000mAh wireless portable battery with its own charging dock that will also hold your iPhone while it’s charging. The battery portion of this device also has USB-C and USB-A charging ports. It’s $49.99 through our deal, but there’s also a deal for two of them for $89.99 on the deal listing.

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Photo Editor ‘Darkroom’ is Ready for M1

Andrew Orr ·

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.

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Foxconn Sees 'Stronger Than Expected' Demand Following iPhone 12 Release

Charlotte Henry ·

Foxconn has seen more demand than it expected following the release of the iPhone 12 range, Reuters reported. It also plans to “push forward” with producing items in Wisconsin.

Foxconn said on Thursday its investment plan did not depend on who the U.S. president was. It was, however, exploring the option of building a new production line there. “We continue to push forward in Wisconsin as planned, but the product has to be in line with the market demand … there could be a change in what product we make there,” Chairman Liu Young-way said at an investor conference. Liu said Foxconn saw “stronger than expected” demand for both smartphones and servers, with strong shipments of Apple’s new iPhone 12 supporting revenue.