Scar•dip•dap

Privacy

Comcast has recently shipped a new home security feature in its routers dubbed "WiFi Motion". It works by using fluctuating WiFi radio signal strength to determine if someone is in a monitored area. Unfortunately, buried in the documentation is a clause allowing Comcast to provide this motion sensing information to law enforcement without notifying the subject or owner of the device.

In my opinion, not only is this a gross invasion of privacy, but also a looming security problem, as a hacked device can become a way for would-be robbers to case a home without ever coming near it. As always, I recommend using a third-party router and WiFi access point with your home internet, such as one of the options in Newsletter 05. [1]

Security

9to5Mac reports:

"Earlier this month, Apple released macOS Sonoma 14.8.9, macOS Sequoia 15.7.9, and macOS Tahoe 26.6.1, with the release notes initially stating only that they provided “important security fixes” and were recommended for all users. The company later expanded on this."

Ars Technica reports researchers, with the help of AI, found a Zoom screen sharing bug where "Anyone on a call that involved screen sharing, whether participants or the host, would have been vulnerable to a silent attack that could be carried out with no indication and no interaction from the victim."

What's impressive about this story isn't that researchers used a public AI model to craft a working attack against the largest videoconferencing platform on the planet; it's that I predicted this kind of thing would happen the second LLM's started gaining mainstream traction. [3]

Automation

Normally, I avoid numbered listicles, but this one from MacRumors is a nice reminder of all the features coming to iOS 27 next month, or later if you're smart (NEVER install the .0 version of any Apple software!) My personal favorites are (in no particular order):

• "Inline Reply to Messages From Android Users"
• "Tweak Liquid Glass Opacity"
• "Save a Still From a Video"
• "Give Your Alarms Their Own Volume" and
• "Get Notified About a Webpage Change."

While a few are dependent on Apple Intelligence, I believe some are good emough features on their own that they merit the upgrade. In my experience, most Apple software releases include features that may not make it into the keynote, but are exceptionally good nonetheless. [4]

Sources:

• [1] Cybernews: Xfinity routers are now motion detectors able to tell on you to the police
• [2] 9to5Mac: A serious Mac screen sharing vulnerability is being actively exploited
• [3] arsTechnica: Researchers found a way to hijack devices through Zoom screen sharing
• [4] MacRumors: 30 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27

1. Except where explicitly mentioned, absolutely no part of this newsletter was created with AI.
2. All opinions expressed are solely my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer or anyone else.
3. For support with any mentioned product, please reach out to the vendor first.