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Alleged Eavesdropping Costs $95 Million As Apple Reaches Siri Settlement Alleged Eavesdropping Costs $95 Million As Apple Reaches Siri Settlement
Alleged Eavesdropping Costs $95 Million As Apple Reaches Siri Settlement Apple will pay a $95 million settlement regarding allegations that its virtual assistant, Siri, eavesdropped on users without their consent, according to multiple reports. The settlement, filed in federal court in Oakland, California this week, addresses a lawsuit that dates back five years and must be approved by a US District judge at a hearing on Friday, Feb. 14, Bloomberg Law reports. The lawsuit claims that Siri was activated to record conversations even when users did not use the launching phrase, “Hey, Siri.” These recordings were allegedly shared with third parties s to target user…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.  Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools. Key Updates ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data. Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…

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by Joe Lombardi
Police & Fire
Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Maryland Couple, Police Say Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Maryland Couple, Police Say
Brooklyn Man Charged In $400K Gold Bar Scam Targeting Elderly Maryland Couple, Police Say A Brooklyn man is facing charges after allegedly scamming a 75-year-old Bethesda couple out of over $400,000 through a gold bar scheme, Montgomery County police announced. Yongxian Huang, 23, was arrested after posing as a federal agent and convincing the couple to convert their assets into gold bars for "safekeeping" with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, authorities said Friday, Nov. 22. The elaborate scam began in September 2024 when the victims received a fake text message claiming to be from Apple about unauthorized charges.  After contacting the number provided, the cou…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Apple Issues 'Update Now' Warning To iPhone, iPad Users Apple Issues 'Update Now' Warning To iPhone, iPad Users
Apple Issues 'Update Now' Warning To iPhone, iPad Users Apple has just issued what it calls an urgent update for iPhone and iPad users that it says provides protection two critical security vulnerabilities related to exploits of user data while browsing on these devices. The download to iOS 18.1.1 fixes issues in JavaScriptCore and WebKit that could allow attackers to execute malicious code through crafted web content.  Apple says users should install the update promptly. You can do this by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update on your device. For more information on the updates from Apple, click here.

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Stiff Sentence For Repeat Offender Involved In Violent Maryland Carjacking: Prosecutors Stiff Sentence For Repeat Offender Involved In Violent Maryland Carjacking: Prosecutors
Stiff Sentence For Repeat Offender Involved In Violent Maryland Carjacking: Prosecutors A repeat offender was given a sentence above and beyond the standard for a violent carjacking last year in Baltimore that left a man with a fractured face. Alonzo Smith was sentenced to 20 years in prison, above the 10- to 15-year guidelines for an incident in February 2023 in the 200 block of High Street, the Baltimore City State's Attorney announced on Friday. On Feb. 5 last year, a 2022 Honda CRV was taken during the course of an assault minutes before members of the Baltimore Police Department responded to the area, officials said. The victim parked his vehicle shortly before being app…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Domestic Disturbance Leads Police In Maryland To Stash Of Stolen Apple Products: Police Domestic Disturbance Leads Police In Maryland To Stash Of Stolen Apple Products: Police
Domestic Disturbance Leads Police In Maryland To Stash Of Stolen Apple Products: Police Piles upon piles of expensive Apple products were recovered by police in Montgomery County who came upon a host of stolen electronics while investigating a separate incident in the Silver Spring area, police say. Tremaine McDowell, 41, has been arrested and charged in connection to a string of burglaries after investigators from the Montgomery County Department of Police found him in possession of MacBook laptops, iPhones, and other electronics that had been taken from local residents. An investigation into a series of burglaries reported between June and November in the Lenox Park, Veridia…

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by Zak Failla
News
Should Parents Be Concerned Over Apple's New 'NameDrop' Feature? Should Parents Be Concerned Over Apple's New 'NameDrop' Feature?
Should Parents Be Concerned Over Apple's New 'NameDrop' Feature? Concerns are mounting over a feature on Apple's new iOS 17 update, but tech experts and some law enforcement officials say NameDrop is safe. NameDrop allows contact information to be shared with other Apple users. But not without both devices having iOS 17 installed. And not without being extremely close, or touching. And not without consent. To initiate the transfer of contact information, both devices must have the new update, be unlocked, and be very close or touching for several seconds.  Then, a screen will appear at the top of the device with prompts to "receive only" or "share." T…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Maryland Man Sentenced For Posing As Teen Girl On Social Media To Entice Boys Maryland Man Sentenced For Posing As Teen Girl On Social Media To Entice Boys
Maryland Man Sentenced For Posing As Teen Girl On Social Media To Entice Boys A 25-year-old Maryland man who posed as a teenage girl on social media to exploit underage boys for illicit materials which he then sold for a profit has been sentenced to decades in prison. Baltimore resident Matthew K. Walsh, 25, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 30 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of a minor in order to produce child pornography.  Specifically, federal prosecutors say that Walsh created fictitious online profiles purporting to be a teenage girl to contact and induce underage boys between the ages of 12 and 17 to se…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
'Threats Of Mass Violence:' Teen Suspect Charged For Making Bomb Threat At Maryland HS 'Threats Of Mass Violence:' Teen Suspect Charged For Making Bomb Threat At Maryland HS
'Threats Of Mass Violence:' Teen Suspect Charged For Making Bomb Threat At Maryland HS A teenage student is facing criminal charges after giving his classmates a scare in Maryland by sending out a bomb threat to start the new school year, authorities announced. On Thursday, Aug. 18, the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office was called to Oakdale High School on Eaglehead Drive in Ijamsville after the district received a notification regarding a threat of violence that was made targeting the building. Throughout the school, investigators said that students and cell phone users received several images with text messages alluding to a bomb threat through Apple’s AirDrop feature. Fol…

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by Zak Failla