Technologies

Download iOS 16.5 for These Important Security Fixes

The latest software update for iPhones fixes security issues that might be actively exploited.

Apple released iOS 16.5 on Thursday, almost two months after the release of iOS 16.4. The latest iOS update provides a few new features to your iPhone, like a new sports tab in the Apple News app, but you should really download the update for all the security patches and fixes it includes.

To download iOS 16.5, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the onscreen prompts.

The latest iPhone update patches almost 40 issues and bugs, Apple said in its patch notes, including three security issues that might be actively exploited. These three security issues relate to WebKit, the internet browser engine used in Safari and developed by Apple.

One of these issues could disclose sensitive information to a third party, and another could allow a third party to execute commands on your device without your knowledge. Fixes for these issues are in 16.5 for anyone who missed the release of the first iPhone Rapid Security Response, iOS 16.4.1 (a). The third issue could allow a third party access to more information across your device than is allowed.

The iOS update also patches an issue where someone could access your contacts from your lock screen. While Apple has provided ways to customize your lock screen, some people have run into issues where the lock screen can allow others to access some iPhone features, like replying to messages and even your Wallet.

Other patches in the update include stopping some apps from bypassing privacy preferences, blocking some apps from reading sensitive location information and preventing app termination when opening a PDF file.

For more, you can check out what new features iOS 16.5 brings to your iPhone and what features you may have missed in iOS 16.4.

Watch this: iOS 16: Powerful Features You May Have Missed

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Technologies

Credit Bureau TransUnion Hit With Data Breach Affecting 4.4 Million People

The breach was contained within hours, though personal information, including names and Social Security numbers, were exposed.

Major credit bureau TransUnion has suffered a data breach that exposed sensitive information belonging to 4.4 million customers, including names and Social Security numbers.

The data breach took place on July 28. A TransUnion spokesperson told CNET that the incident was identified and contained within hours. The credit bureau is notifying people who may have been affected that their information could be exposed and sharing the actions the company is taking.

Consumer rights law firm Wolf Haldenstein issued an alert on the breach and encouraged those who have received a notice and spot unusual activity on their credit report to reach out.

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Two separate state filings shed more details on the situation. A court filing in Maine shows that TransUnion acknowledged unauthorized access from a third-party application that stored personal customer data. While the notice to consumers says that no credit information was accessed, «limited personal information» was exposed. However, another filing from Texas states that names of individuals, Social Security numbers, and birthdates were exposed in the breach.

The TransUnion spokesperson further clarified that the breach involved a third-party application serving its U.S. consumer support operations, but did not include its core credit database or credit reports. The bureau has engaged third party cybersecurity experts for an independent forensics review.

Even if you haven’t received a notice, if you’ve experienced unusual activity on your credit report, you can always freeze your credit for free, enable two-factor authentication or add a security key to your accounts.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Sept. 2, #1536

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Sept. 2, No. 1,536

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle could be tricky. It’s one of those where even if you guess the last four letters, you’re going to have a bunch of choices for the beginning letter. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with M.

Wordle hint No. 4: Superhero

Today’s Wordle answer is the start of the first word in the name of an animated flying mouse superhero.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to power or strength.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is MIGHT.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Sept. 1, No. 1535 was LEAST.

Recent Wordle answers

Aug. 28, No. 1531: SPLIT

Aug. 29, No. 1532: GRAFT

Aug. 30, No. 1533: ELATE

Aug. 31, No. 1534: PETAL

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Sept. 2 #548

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Sept. 2, No. 548.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a weird one. But once I caught the theme, the words were short and easy to unscramble. If you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Things are starting to take shape.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Sophomores often take this.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

TETRA, ONLY, MULE, CRATE, RATE, LESS, CRASS, ROTE, MOTE, POLE, MOLE, ANGEL, NICE, VASE, VASES, LANE, TOME, LOIN

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: