iPad models released in 2020 come with a hardware microphone disconnect feature that prevents eavesdropping when the device’s case is closed. Apple previously equipped their recent MacBook models with a security feature that intelligently switches off the microphone when the lid is closed. Now it’s turn for iPad devices to get a similar functionality off the shelf. The extra protection against snooping starts to go live in the 2020 iPad Pro. Instead of closing the lid, which is obviously not the case with the mobile devices in question, the mic cut-off feature is triggered when the user closes the case.

A bug bounty program is an amazingly effective way for software makers and device manufacturers to explore weaknesses in what they create. Apple joined the club in December 2019 by encouraging everyone, not only invited researchers, to put their products to the test. The first results of this move have been quick to arrive as a security analyst found a way to exploit Safari vulnerabilities and access the camera on iOS and macOS devices.

There’s no denying that nation-states are big players in the cyber domain and this activity isn’t restricted to safeguarding the critical infrastructure and governmental information assets against different types of breaches. A particularly controversial vector involves espionage and sabotage through digital means. White hats have recently shown how state-sponsored Mac malware can be weaponized by their financially motivated black hat counterparts to steal users’ data and wreak other forms of havoc.

In light of the COVID-19 emergency, a plethora of businesses around the world have been forced to switch to a remote workplace approach. The new reality is pretty much a no-go without video conferencing services like Zoom. However, it turned out that the above-mentioned app has gaping security loopholes some of which affect Mac users. Find out what these bugs are and what kind of consequences they may entail for one’s privacy and security.

The recent update of Apple’s proprietary web browser proved out to be more revolutionary than it may appear. Having surfaced in late March 2020, Safari 13.1 comes with a host of new features and, perhaps most importantly, a fundamental privacy tweak. The latter comes down to enhancements of the built-in mechanisms intended to prevent third-party tracking. Go ahead and familiarize yourself with these commendable improvements.

In late March 2020, Apple released another subversion of macOS Catalina. The new 10.15.4 iteration introduces a series of bug fixes and enhancements while additionally delivering security tweaks and feature updates. Compared to the previous build, this one appears to have more substantial changes under the hood and has a hue of finalization, which could mean that a fresh major macOS version is around the corner.