Category: Apple Byte

An Apple Byte : Trump Says Apple CEO Called with EU Concerns

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Former US President Donald Trump has claimed that Apple CEO Tim Cook recently called him to voice frustrations over financial penalties imposed by the European Union (EU) on the tech giant. According to Mr Trump, Cook is alarmed by the EU’s regulatory approach, including a significant tax penalty and other fines affecting Apple’s operations within the bloc.

The claim, made during Mr Trump’s appearance on the PBD Podcast, follows a contentious period for Apple and other tech companies under the EU’s stringent competition and digital service rules. For example, in September, Apple lost a significant legal battle over €13bn (£11bn) in unpaid taxes, with the EU’s highest court upholding the European Commission’s accusation of unlawful tax benefits provided by Ireland. Cook, as Mr Trump conveyed, criticised these findings as politically motivated.

Mr Trump recounted that Cook specifically highlighted a recent $15bn fine, with additional charges reportedly raising the total to around $17-18bn. This includes a €1.8bn fine issued earlier this year over alleged breaches in music streaming competition, favouring rival services like Spotify. Cook reportedly expressed frustration over the EU using these fines as revenue, accusing the bloc of building an “enterprise” out of antitrust penalties.

The European Commission, however, has defended its approach, stating that fines for competition breaches are not only punitive but also serve as a deterrent. A Commission spokesperson highlighted that the fines contribute to the EU’s general budget, indirectly reducing the tax burden on citizens. This response reflects the EU’s firm stance that companies operating in Europe must respect its laws and competition standards.

Mr Trump also mentioned ongoing conversations with other tech leaders, including Google’s Sundar Pichai and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, as part of his campaign outreach to prominent figures in the tech sector. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, and owner of X (formerly Twitter) has also shown support for Mr Trump, who has been vocal in his criticism of the EU’s stringent digital regulations, promising changes should he return to the White House.

As Mr Trump continues to engage with tech executives, regulatory pressures on tech companies in the EU are likely to remain a significant point of contention. With new regulations such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, the EU is signalling a continued commitment to reining in large tech platforms, which could lead to further scrutiny and financial repercussions for major firms operating within its borders.

An Apple Byte : New Features In Upcoming iOS 18.2 Update

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Apple is set to release a new wave of AI-powered features in its upcoming iOS 18.2 update, with a focus on enhancing Siri and other key apps through advanced intelligence tools.

The new “Apple Intelligence” features will be available on supported devices later this year, with iOS 18.2 marking the introduction of several key enhancements. While some features will roll out in iOS 18.1, the more highly anticipated tools, such as advanced image generation and personalised Siri requests, are expected in later updates.

Among the standout features arriving in iOS 18.2 or later is “Genmoji”, which allows users to create custom emojis through a simple text description. There’s also ChatGPT integration, which will enable more intuitive and natural responses from Siri, as well as the use of AI writing tools. Another exciting feature is the “Image Playground”, which offers users the ability to generate original images in various styles. This set of tools could fundamentally reshape the way users interact with their devices.

Siri is also receiving significant upgrades. For example, users will soon be able to reference personal context in requests, like asking about a specific meeting or book recommendation. A new “Siri on-screen awareness” feature will allow Siri to act on the information currently displayed on the screen, making it even more intuitive. Also, hundreds of new in-app and cross-app actions will enhance Siri’s versatility, giving users more control over their apps.

The iOS 18.2 update will also introduce better organisation features in the Mail app, with automatic sorting of emails based on their content into different categories. On the visual intelligence front, iPhone 16 users will benefit from “Camera Control”, a tool capable of identifying real-world objects and providing key details.

Looking ahead, Apple has committed to expanding its Apple Intelligence features to more languages. While iOS 18.1 will only support US English, iOS 18.2 will extend this to other English-speaking regions like the UK, Australia, and South Africa. Further language support is expected to arrive in 2025.

With iOS 18.2, Apple is laying the groundwork for a more intelligent, user-centric iPhone experience. As the company plans regular updates, users can expect these AI-driven features to evolve quickly, especially for those participating in the beta programme.

An Apple Byte : New macOS Update Disrupts Popular Cybersecurity Tools

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Following its recent release, Apple’s latest macOS update, dubbed Sequoia (macOS 15), has disrupted the functionality of several widely used cybersecurity tools, including those from CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, and Microsoft.

Users and developers have voiced frustrations on social media and in Mac-focused forums about issues leaving many security applications non-operational. Reports highlight problems with tools like CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender, and ESET, alongside browser issues, particularly with Firefox, where the OS firewall sometimes blocks web access. The root cause is unclear, but the disruptions are creating significant challenges for both end-users and enterprise security teams.

The key issue seems to stem from changes Apple has made in Sequoia’s network stack, which cybersecurity firms say is interfering with their products. For example, CrowdStrike delayed support for Sequoia, citing complications in adapting their software. Similarly, SentinelOne warned users not to upgrade without ensuring proper support, while Microsoft’s Defender and ESET have faced similar difficulties. Despite SentinelOne and ESET eventually providing compatibility, significant disruption remains across the community.

Apple has yet to comment, leaving security firms and users to manage the situation. CrowdStrike is awaiting a Sequoia update to offer full support, while temporary workarounds are being shared to address issues like firewall settings and basic web browsing. For now, it may be advisable to delay upgrading to macOS Sequoia until Apple or security providers release compatible updates.

An Apple Byte : Security Concerns For New AI Powered iPhones

Posted on by Paul Stradling

As highlighted recently by the Wall Street Journal, the range of AI-driven features in Apple’s latest iPhones could transform how enterprises operate, provided company data is protected and businesses understand how best to use these new features.

Unveiled in their new iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models, the new “Apple Intelligence” tools offer improved capabilities like enhanced voice assistance and sophisticated text and photo editing. While these innovations may appeal to consumers, they may hold particular promise for UK businesses looking to harness the power of generative AI to streamline processes and boost efficiency.

A key selling point of these new Apple devices is their on-device AI functionality, allowing tasks to be run locally without the need for a cloud server which could offer a new way to boost innovation within the workplace. However, some businesses may be concerned about how this will ensure sensitive company data remains secure and may need reassurance that adopting these tools won’t put their information at risk, particularly with new AI technologies.

That said, Apple has addressed these concerns with its Private Cloud Compute system, designed to handle AI tasks securely when not processed on the device itself. They’ve also introduced transparency logs, which allow businesses to see exactly when AI apps are running locally versus in the cloud. However, the lack of clarity over exactly how and when data might be exposed to external servers continues to raise questions, particularly as Apple incorporates third-party AI tools like ChatGPT (though this feature will remain off by default).

Despite the challenges, many enterprise leaders may be optimistic about the potential for Apple’s AI tools and the benefits the technology could deliver once data security is fully addressed. With AI becoming an increasingly vital tool for productivity, businesses (rather than consumers) will likely be the driving force behind widespread adoption.

An Apple Byte : Microsoft Suggest EC Laws Make Apple Less Vulnerable To CrowdStrike

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Following CrowdStrike’s faulty update only affecting Microsoft Windows systems (because the update was specific to the Windows operating system), it’s been reported that Microsoft claims that an agreement with the EU means it’s not allowed to protect its operating system (OS) in the same way as Apple. The agreement with the EU relates to Microsoft not being able to give its own security software an unfair advantage over third-party apps.

Following a complaint (antitrust) to the European Commission in 2009, Microsoft says it agreed to give security software makers the same level of access to Windows that Microsoft itself gets. This, says Microsoft, contrasts with Apple’s situation.

Although Apple doesn’t allow security apps to have the same deep-level access to its OS, the macOS does the same type of monitoring as CrowdStrike for itself.

However, critics may say that CrowdStrike’s tools can’t operate at the same depth on a Mac as they can on Windows because Apple’s Endpoint Security Framework prevents it from doing so. Microsoft could have taken the same approach. Also, it could be argued by some, that Microsoft may only have itself to blame to an extent having only been made to make agreements following the outcome of antitrust cases and investigations relating to unfair advantages as judged by the EC.

An Apple Byte : New Standalone Apple Password Manager App

Posted on by Paul Stradling

At Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC24), the company announced the launch of its new, standalone, homegrown, password manager app for iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro, Mac and Windows.

The free app, simply called ‘Passwords’, an extension of Apple’s iCloud Keychain feature, is set to debut with iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS 15, and is designed to streamline and enhance password management for Apple users.

The ‘Passwords’ app can store and sync passwords, passkeys, and two-factor authentication codes across Apple devices and Windows PCs, organise logins into categories, autofill usernames and passwords, and generate new passwords. Apple’s new ‘Passwords’ app is already being hailed as a rival to password managers like 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane.

An Apple Byte : Used iPhone Components To Be Allowed For iPhone Repairs

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Apple has announced that beginning in the autumn with select iPhone models, customers and independent repair providers will be able to utilise used Apple components in the repair process.

Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, John Ternus, said: “With this latest expansion to our repair program, we’re excited to be adding even more choice and convenience for our customers, while helping to extend the life of our products and their parts.” 

Apple says that its teams have been working over the last two years to enable the reuse of parts such as biometric sensors used for Face ID or Touch ID, and that, beginning this autumn, “calibration for genuine Apple parts, new or used, will happen on-device after the part is installed.” 

An Apple Byte : Serious Apple Chip Vulnerability Discovered

Posted on by Paul Stradling

US researchers have reported discovering a hardware chip vulnerability inside Apple M1, M2, and M3 silicon chips. The unpatchable ‘GoFetch’ is a microarchitecture vulnerability and side-channel attack that reportedly affects all kinds of encryption algorithms, even the 2,048-bit keys that are hardened to protect against attacks from quantum computers.

This serious vulnerability renders the security effects of constant-time programming (a side-channel mitigation encryption algorithm) useless. This means that encryption software can be tricked by applications using GoFetch into putting sensitive data into the cache so it can be stolen.

Pending any fix advice from Apple, users are recommended to use the latest versions of software, and to perform updates regularly. Also, developers of cryptographic libraries should set the DOIT bit and DIT bit bits (disabling the DMP on some CPUs) and to use input blinding (cryptography). Users are also recommended to avoid hardware sharing to help maintain the security of cryptographic protocols.

An Apple Byte : Quantum-Proof iMessage Update

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Apple says it’s rolling out an update to its iMessage texting platform that can defend against future encryption-breaking technologies such as decryption by quantum computers.

Apple says its PQ3 “groundbreaking post-quantum cryptographic protocol” offers Level 3 security, i.e. it provides protocol protections that surpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps. Apple says PQ3 (post-quantum cryptography 3) has the strongest security properties of any at-scale messaging protocol in the world and that it has “rebuilt the iMessage cryptographic protocol from the ground up to advance the state of the art in end-to-end encryption”. 

Although Apple acknowledges that quantum computers with the capability to crack classical public key cryptography algorithms don’t exist yet, it says its PQ3 update offers “the strongest protection against quantum attacks” in the future and is “the only widely available messaging service to reach Level 3 security”.

An Apple Byte : Stolen Device Protection Update Rolled Out

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Apple iPhone users are being urged to use a new feature called ‘Stolen Device Protection’ which was rolled out in a recent update to iOS.

As the new feature’s name suggests, it can help prevent someone who has stolen your device and knows your passcode from making critical changes to your account or device. It means that certain actions will have additional security requirements when your iPhone is away from familiar locations, such as your home or workplace.

The feature protects by including factors like a security delay and the need to authenticate Face ID or Touch ID before certain actions can be taken on a device.

The opt-in Stolen Device Protection feature can be turned on in Settings but requires the use of two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and setting up or enabling the following on your iPhone: a device passcode; Face ID or Touch ID; Find My; and Significant Locations.