Episode 388: RCS, FBI, and Alexa

Show Notes: Kirk McElhearn Josh Long Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

The Better Business Bureau advises Apple to curb its deceptive Apple Intelligence marketing. What is "slopsquatting"? It doesn't sound very appealing, but it is to cyber criminals. And we've got another reason why phishing scammers love Google services. Show Notes: Urgent: macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, iOS 18.4.1 address 2 zero-day vulnerabilities Josh: Here’s why you should stay on the very latest Apple OS Technical analysis of CVE-2025-31201 Apple drops ‘available now’ from Apple Intelligence page AI-hallucinated code dependencies become new supply chain risk Cookie-Bite attack PoC uses Chrome extension to steal session tokens OpenAI tells judge it would buy Chrome from Google Phishers abuse Google OAuth to spoof Google in DKIM replay attack Whisky development ends on macOS to help Wine flourish Is 2025 the year of Mac gaming? Top 5 reasons to be a Mac gamer Instagram Launches 'Edits' App to Replace CapCut Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple has a new policy on how the data on your device will be used to train its AI features. iMessage phishing scams seem to work because they're still thriving worldwide. Google may say it's cracking down on ad spam, but they don't seem to be able to prevent it from proliferating. And buying a refurbished phone may save you some money, but we're here to remind you of some other factors also worth considering. Show Notes: Apple to Analyze User Data on Devices to Bolster AI Technology Understanding Aggregate Trends for Apple Intelligence Using Differential Privacy Urgent: macOS Sequoia 15.4.1, iOS 18.4.1 address 2 zero-day vulnerabilities Buy Refurbished Tech to Avoid Tariffs What you should know before buying refurbished gadgets Chinese Android Phones Shipped with Fake WhatsApp, Telegram Apps Targeting Crypto Users Researcher uncovers dozens of sketchy Chrome extensions with 4 million installs Google: Our 2024 Ads Safety Report shows how we use AI to safeguard consumers Chrome 136 fixes 20-year browser history privacy risk Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

We discuss new US tariffs placed on China might affect the price of Apple products in the coming months. We now know more about how a journalist was added to a supposedly private Signal chat among White House officials. Researchers claim any Bluetooth device can be converted to behave like an AirTag tracker. And we've got a few ideas and tricks on how you can use the buttons on your iPhone and iPad. Show Notes: You Should Think About Replacing Your iPhone — Now How the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg got added to the White House Signal group chat Apple sometimes shows “Maybe:” based on what the sender claims To turn this feature off, go to Settings > Apps > Contacts > Siri, then turn off Show Contact Suggestions Why you see “Maybe” before contacts on iPhone, and how to fix it UK Court Rejects Government Secrecy in Apple's Fight Against Backdoor Request Lazarus Group Targets Job Seekers With ClickFix Tactic to Deploy GolangGhost Malware Tracking You from a Thousand Miles Away! Turning a Bluetooth Device into an Apple AirTag Google fixes Android zero-days exploited in attacks, 60 other flaws Microsoft April 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes exploited zero-day, 134 flaws Everything you can do with the buttons on your iPhone or iPad Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

The latest macOS Sequoia update patches a near record number of vulnerabilities. Apple faces a class action lawsuit over how ebooks are sold, a lawsuit that could have far reaching effects for digital media sales. And Apple is not the only company that over promises and under delivers on AI features. Show Notes: Computing would be totally different had Apple not been formed 49 years ago, today iOS 18.4 Bug Seemingly Resurrects Previously Deleted iPhone Apps Apple Intelligence is now available on Vision Pro Apple Hit With $5 Billion Class Action Lawsuit Over eBooks Availability Arc browser for macOS didn’t get zero-day patched last week Phishing platform 'Lucid' behind wave of iOS, Android SMS attacks It’s not just Apple Intelligence: Alexa+ also launching without key features Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

An update is coming to Apple's AirPods Max headphones, and we'll tell you what Apple isn't telling you about its new features. Apple spends billions on it, but who is watching Apple TV Plus? Compared to the other streaming services, it doesn't look like a lot. And we take a look at gaming on the Mac just as some big titles are coming to the marketplace. Show Notes: Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) returns June 9–13 Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio come to AirPods Max USB-C to 3.5 mm Audio Cable (1.2 m) — U.S. $39.00 Apple TV Plus is reportedly losing $1 billion per year Steam game store exploited to push malware—twice in 2 months iMessage scams on the rise: Tax refunds and toll payments Should you delete your 23andMe account data? Bankruptcy and privacy concerns This week, Amazon is taking away the option of not sending voice recordings to the cloud Google fixes Chrome zero-day exploited in espionage campaign Is 2025 the year of Mac gaming? Top 5 reasons to be a Mac gamer Apple silicon Explained in 56 seconds (MKBHD video) Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple has officially announced support for encrypted RCS messaging, as the new RCS standard is finalized. Microsoft announces plans to phase out Windows 10, the operating system a majority of its users are currently running. The FBI issues a warning about using online file converters. And Amazon will soon be listening to your Alexa conversations, whether you like it or not. Show Notes: Apple’s Passwords app was vulnerable to phishing attacks for nearly three months after launch Apple will soon support encrypted RCS messaging with Android users US Mac growth suggests Microsoft may have done Apple a huge favor Desktop Windows Version Market Share Worldwide Are file converter sites safe? How to convert files safely on your Mac FBI Denver Warns of Online File Converter Scam Are “corrupt my file” sites safe? Here’s why to avoid corrupt-a-file services Amazon is taking away the option of not sending voice recordings to the cloud Password reuse is rampant: nearly half of observed user logins are compromised Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple's latest OS updates patch a serious vulnerability, one that was already supposed to be patched. The tide may be turning in how governments view backdoor access to encrypted data. And Apple has announced it's delaying new personalized Siri features by another year. We have views. Show Notes: Apple and Google patch zero-day vulnerability used to hack iPhones France rejects controversial encryption backdoor provision Apple challenging legality of UK’s secret demand to globally compromise iCloud encryption 10 Ways End-to-Encryption Protects Your Data, Your Privacy, and Your Bank Balance Don't expect cheaper iCloud storage as Apple wins another monopoly lawsuit New XCSSET malware adds new obfuscation, persistence techniques to infect Xcode projects Mac malware exposed: XCSSET, an advanced new threat US cities warn of wave of unpaid parking phishing texts Apple Is Delaying the ‘More Personalized Siri’ Apple Intelligence Features Apple Adds Disclosure About Delayed Siri Features to iPhone 16 Pages Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple's latest bevy of hardware releases feature processor upgrades and some processor naming confusion. The new iPhone 16e is Apple's least expensive iPhone, and it just may be all the phone you need. And why do the new iPads not support Apple's most advertised feature? Show Notes: Apple introduces the new MacBook Air with the M4 chip and a sky blue color iPod+HP — How Steve Jobs Fleeced Carly Fiorina Apple introduces iPad Air with powerful M3 chip and new Magic Keyboard Apple unveils new Mac Studio, the most powerful Mac ever iPhone 16e Review: An iPhone That's Good Enough for Most People 'Assassin's Creed Shadows' to debut in March for Mac and iPad Our eight-year-old daughter spent £8,500 on the Apple app store Apple announces M3 Ultra—and says not every generation will see an “Ultra” chip Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.

Apple has disabled Advanced Data Protection in the UK. Will other countries insist on similar measures? New Apple Intelligence features have arrived, and if they aren't your thing, we have a remedy. Beware of new malware disguised as an update to your favorite browser. And the Chrome browser will be dropping support for a bunch of ad blockers. Show Notes: Apple is bringing Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro Apple Says iOS 18.4 Will Be Released in April With These New Features How to turn off Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac Apple Releases First visionOS 2.4 Beta With Apple Intelligence, Spatial Gallery and More Apple pulls iCloud end-to-end encryption feature in the UK New FrigidStealer infostealer infects Macs via fake browser updates Beware: PayPal "New Address" feature abused to send phishing emails Exploits for unpatched Parallels Desktop flaw give root on Macs Firefox continues Manifest V2 support as Chrome disables MV2 ad-blockers End of Support for uBO on Chrome / Chromium browsers Google Confirms Gmail To Ditch SMS Code Authentication Amazon announces AI upgrade for Alexa Intego Mac Premium Bundle X9 is the ultimate protection and utility suite for your Mac. Download a free trial now at intego.com, and use this link for a special discount when you're ready to buy.