Apple releases new iPhone SE

Apple has just released the new iPhone SE after months of speculation and rumors, and will begin taking pre-orders for the compact and powerful new device on Friday, 17 April. The most affordable iPhone on the market, the iPhone SE starts at just $399 (USD) for an entry-level model. 

In what follows, we’ll give you an overview of the iPhone SE’s major features, including the implications for security and privacy.

Size, storage, pricing, exterior

The iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, making it almost identical to the iPhone 8 physically. 

The base …

Checklist 181: Tech Takes on Coronavirus

This week, Ken looks at the Apple/Google team-up on contact tracing, Apple’s use of Maps data to fight the spread of COVID-19, and a story about brand phishing that’s not coronavirus related. Mostly.

Apple and Google Develop Covid-19 Contact Tracing Tool

Apple and Google have announced that they’re working together to create a Covid-19 contact tracing framework for mobile devices. In this piece, we’ll tell you what you need to know about this important new technology.

What is it?

The joint project is aimed at developing a Bluetooth-based contact tracing system that will alert iOS and Android users if they’ve come into contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19.

When will it be available?

The system is being deployed in two stages. In May, Apple and Google plan to release APIs (Application Programming …

Teaching computers to kids

With schools closed indefinitely, many of us are looking for ways to keep our kids engaged and occupied at home (without just plonking them down in front of the TV for hours at a time!).

Checklist 180: Scams, Sign-Ins, and Automatic Updates

This week on the Checklist, we’ll share a new warning about coronavirus scams, update you on the state of Apple’s secure sign-in service, and debate the merits of our own advice!

Four Apps for Helping Others

The Covid-19 pandemic has created an enormous amount of stress and uncertainty. It’s understandable: We’re worried about our relatives, nervous about the state of the economy, and concerned for our own health. We all want to know when things will return to normal, but there is no clear answer to that question.

There’s a lot that is out of our control. At times like this, many people find that doing something to help others — taking positive action to bring some good into the world — can actually help to alleviate …

Cybersecurity Film and TV Guide

Many of us will be stuck inside for the foreseeable future. But while we won’t be heading to the movies any time soon, that doesn’t mean we have to go without entertainment!

Checklist 179: An Updates Update

Apple has released updates for a number of apps and OSes over the past couple of weeks. In this Checklist, we’ll take you through the most important of these — covering new features as well as security fixes.

LightSpy: APT malware for iOS

Security researchers have discovered a new form of iOS malware that they’ve dubbed LightSpy affecting both iOS and Android.

A Checklist of Checklists Around Covid-19

The Checklist is taking a break this week, but with all that’s going on in the world, and with so many new changes to the way we live and work, we wanted to point you to some resources that can help keep you safe and happy.

Apple’s March 2020 Updates

Apple has just released a raft of updates, and some of them have important security and privacy implications. In this brief article, we’ll highlight some of the key points from Cupertino’s release notes and explain their significance. Then (in a sign of the times) we’ll offer a special addendum to our update guidance.

macOS 10.15.4

Version 10.15.4 of macOS patches a number of serious vulnerabilities. Related security patches were also issued to support older versions of the operating system; these were named Security Update 2020-002 Mojave and Security Update 2020-002 High Sierra.

One …

Avoiding Covid-19 Financial Relief Scams

In a bid to blunt the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. lawmakers have proposed a program of direct relief payments to citizens. The first payments are expected sometime in April 2020, though the specifics are still undetermined. However, due to the high potential for fraudsters to take advantage of the situation, the United States Federal Trade Commission has already issued an alert to the public to be on the lookout for scams.

In what follows, we’ll talk about several scams you may encounter, and tell you what you should …