Why Apple Pay is Stuck in Australia
Apple Pay’s rollout in Australia is stalled, limited only to American Express cards. The political opposition is now accusing the major banks of anti-competitive behavior for blocking the service.
Category: Privacy
Apple and Google Warn Users About New Spyware Attacks
Tech giants Apple and Google have sent out a new wave of threat notifications to users worldwide. The warnings are for suspected targeted spyware attacks, often linked to state-backed actors.
India Wants iPhones to Have GPS Always On, Apple Says No
India is reviewing a proposal that would require smartphone makers like Apple to keep GPS active at all times, with no user option to disable it. Apple has formally opposed the plan, warning it’s a dangerous overreach.
US cybersecurity agency says to stop using personal VPNs
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has issued a stark warning against using personal VPN services. The agency says they often shift risk to a less trustworthy provider and can increase your attack surface.
AI Chatbots Are Scarily Good at Changing Your Vote
Forget deepfakes. The real election threat is AI persuasion. Chatbots can nudge voters across party lines more effectively than traditional ads, but there’s a dangerous catch.
Brothers with hacking history try AI to cover tracks after firing
Two brothers, both federal contractors with prior hacking convictions, have been charged with a brazen data destruction spree. According to the DOJ, they deleted sensitive databases just minutes after being terminated and used an AI tool to try and hide the evidence.
Pentagon Watchdog Finds Hegseth’s Secret Phone System
A Pentagon Inspector General report details a system installed for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that let him access his personal cellphone from his secure office. The investigation ties this to his use of Signal to share sensitive info on Yemen airstrikes, concluding it risked U.S. forces.
Anthropic’s AI is now interviewing users… about AI
Anthropic is launching a research pilot where an AI will interview users about their experiences with AI. The program runs for a week, with each interview lasting 10 to 15 minutes. It’s a novel, if self-referential, approach to social science research on AI’s impact.
China’s Android App Store War Finally Gets Regulators’ Attention
A long-simmering conflict between Chinese Android phone makers and app developers is boiling over. Regulators are now targeting high commissions and restrictive practices, signaling a major shift for the world’s largest smartphone market.
Congress Piles On 19 Bills to Police Your Phone’s App Store
A US House subcommittee is hearing a whopping 19 proposals today aimed at child safety online. The most contentious may be the App Store Accountability Act, which would force Apple and Google to verify users’ ages. Privacy advocates and the tech giants themselves are sounding the alarm.