Apple Image Capture

macOS Image Capture bug can fill up hard drives with empty data

A bug has been discovered in the Image Capture app that's part of macOS. The app is used to import photos and videos from other devices.

The bug kicks in when importing images from an iPhone or iPad, and it can result in a hard drive being filled up with empty data.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Sophos

Sophos pushes out emergency patch to fix XG Firewall zero-day vulnerability

Following the discovery of an SQL injection vulnerability in its XG Firewall product, Sophos has released an emergency patch to protect users against hackers.

The vulnerability affects both physical and virtual XG Firewall units, and signs of attacks were first noticed last week. Attackers exploiting the vulnerability on unpatched firewalls would be able to access all local usernames and hashed passwords of any local user accounts, including local device admins, user portal accounts, and accounts used for remote access.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Angled Apple logo

Coronavirus pandemic means Apple will probably delay the next iPhone release

It's only a matter of weeks since Apple revealed the 2020 iPhone SE, but many people are holding out for this year's flagship from the company -- the iPhone 12 range, some of which will be 5G devices.

But it seems like anyone waiting to get their hands on the handset will have to wait a little longer. The chaos caused by the spread of COVID-19 around the world is said to have forced Apple to delay the launch of the phone by a month.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Microsoft Teams on mobile

Microsoft patches Teams vulnerability that allowed for account takeover just by viewing a GIF

A security flaw in Microsoft Teams made it possible for attackers to take over accounts just by getting a victim to view a GIF. The vulnerability stemmed from the way in which Teams handles images and could allow for account takeovers and data theft.

Security firm CyberArk discovered the issue over a month ago and then worked with the Microsoft Security Research Center under Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure to get the vulnerability fixed. With COVID-19 leading to a huge increase in the number of people working remotely and relying on the likes of Zoom and Teams, the prospect of such an easily exploitable vulnerability is concerning.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Microsoft Edge on laptop and smartphone

Microsoft Edge ads appear in Windows 10 search

Microsoft's cross-promotion of its products is nothing new, and the company has used Windows 10 as an advertising platform numerous times already. The latest example of this sees ads for Microsoft Edge appearing in Windows Search in Windows 10.

Ads have started to pop up for people who are not currently using Chromium-based Edge as their default web browser, and it comes just after Microsoft started using Outlook.com to promote Edge to Chrome and Firefox users.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Chrome / Edge fade

Microsoft is bombarding Chrome-using Outlook.com visitors with ads for Edge

Microsoft is no stranger to hitting its customers with ads for its products and services, and it seems that the company is so keen that people make the switch to the new Chromium-based version of Edge that it is now bombarding Outlook.com users with banner ads.

The ads are targeting people who visit the web-based version of Outlook using Google Chrome, and they see Microsoft extolling the speed and performance of its most recent web browser.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Facebook Messenger Rooms

Facebook launches Messenger Rooms as an alternative to Zoom

While Zoom has been taking numerous steps to address various security and privacy concerns that have arisen in recent weeks, there are still plenty of people seeking alternatives to the video conferencing platform. Now Facebook is trying to make its Messenger tool a viable option.

With Facebook Messenger Rooms, the social media giant is giving people the option of conducting video chats with up to 50 people at a time. Unlike the free version of Zoom, there is no time limit on chats in Messenger Rooms, and as an added bonus there is no need to have a Facebook account to use it.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
open source

ProtonMail and ProtonVPN apps are now open source across all platforms

It is a little while since Proton Technologies announced that ProtonVPN was being open sourced to help build trust in the service. Now the company has done the same for the Android version of ProtonMail, and this means that all ProtonMail and ProtonVPN apps are now open source

Just as with ProtonVPN, the open sourcing of ProtonMail opens it up not only to the scrutiny of anyone who cares to trawl through the source code, but it has also been subjected to a third-party security audit.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 10 box with bugs

Another Windows 10 update is causing serious problems, reducing performance, crashing and deleting files

If you were hoping that a spate of problematic updates for Windows 10 might have caused Microsoft to up its game and improve quality control, think again; the KB4549951 update is just the latest to cause issues for users.

And this time around, the problems are pretty serious. In addition to BSoD crashes and connectivity issues, users are also reporting that their settings are being removed and files deleted.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Old iPhone and new iPhone

Zero-day vulnerabilities in iOS Mail are being actively exploited to target high-profile users

Security firm ZecOps has published research about security vulnerabilities affecting iPhones and iPads. The critical flaws are yet to patched by Apple and are said to be actively used to target high-profile users such as journalists, employees of Fortune 500 companies and VIPs.

What's particularly worrying about the flaws is that they can be exploited by sending a message that appears to be blank. Opened in iOS Mail, the message can be used to run code and spy on activity without the need for any interaction from the victim. There is a suggestion that a nation-state could be involved.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Zoom 5.0

Zoom 5.0 is a major update with enhanced encryption and more security options

Zoom Video Communications has announced details of Zoom 5.0, a major update to its video conferencing client which goes a long way to addressing many of the security and privacy issues that have been found in recent weeks.

With the upcoming release, users can benefit from the addition of AES 256-bit GCM encryption, as well as the ability to choose routing options for calls.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Zoom logo on a building

10 top tips to help you use Zoom safely

Zoom's privacy and security issues have been in the headlines for a number of weeks now, causing concern for lots of users. But many people have no option but to use the software after it has been selected by the company they work for.

If you find that you have to use Zoom, there are steps you can take to ensure your experience is as safe as possible. Security firm Kaspersky has offered up a series of tips to boost your security and privacy on the platform.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Windows 10 boxes

How to download the Windows 10 May 2020 Update ISO right now

While the exact release date of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update is not yet known, we do know that Microsoft has finalized the build and it will be unleashed next month.

You can get it via Windows Update right now if you're a Windows Insider, but there's also another option. If you want to perform a clean install of the very latest version of Windows 10, you can download an ISO for the Windows 10 May 2020 Update (or Windows 10 version 2004, or even Windows 10 20H1, as you may know it). Here's how to grab it right now.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Facebook and Carnegie Mellon University launch COVID-19 symptom map

Facebook and Carnegie Mellon University launch COVID-19 symptom map

Facebook, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, has launched a new interactive map to help people keep up to date with the spread of coronavirus across the US.

For now, the map is based on surveys carried out around the country and it enables you to see how many people are experiencing symptoms associated with the disease. The map only covers the US at the moment, but there are plans to expand it to cover other countries soon.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
Coronavirus information in Windows 10 search

Microsoft adds coronavirus updates to Windows 10

With the coronavirus pandemic gripping the attention of the world, there are endless sources of information to help you keep up to date with the latest developments regarding the disease. Now Microsoft has added a COVID-19 tracker, news and resources directly in Windows 10.

Thanks to integration into the operating system, the latest factual information about the coronavirus -- including maps to track the spread -- is just a couple of clicks away.

By Sofia Elizabella Wyciślik-Wilson -
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