Here's what's making news today in tech — picked from the 10 sources I trust, translated for normal humans.
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Your iPhone secretly locks down after 72 hours — this forensic tool may have found a way around it
Apple iPhones automatically enter a stricter security mode called "inactivity reboot" if they haven't been unlocked in 72 hours, making it much harder for anyone to break in. A forensic company says it may have found a partial workaround, though details are limited. For Portage County: This is mostly a concern for law enforcement and hackers, not everyday users, so no action needed, but it's a good reminder that keeping your iPhone updated gives you the best built-in protections.
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Android 17 Advanced Protection Locks Accessibility Services to Verified Accessibility Tools
Google is adding a new security feature to Android phones that, when turned on, stops suspicious apps from secretly controlling your phone through accessibility settings, a common trick used by scammers and hackers. This feature, called Advanced Protection, blocks a major pathway that criminals use to steal money or personal information. For Portage County: If you have an Android phone and want stronger protection, ask Bill about turning on Advanced Protection, especially if you do any banking on your phone.
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A Flaw in ChatGPT’s Mac App Could Have Let Hackers Grab Sensitive Data
A security flaw in the ChatGPT app for Mac computers was recently discovered and fixed, and it could have allowed hackers to access sensitive information typed into the app. OpenAI has already released a patch, meaning the fix is available now. For Portage County: If you use ChatGPT on a Mac, open the app and make sure it has updated itself, or visit the Mac App Store and check for updates.
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AI music maker Suno now generates spoken words
An app called Suno, which uses AI to create music, can now also generate spoken voices and voiceovers from a written script. The feature is available now on Suno's website and phone app, and it can pair a voice with background music at the same time. For Portage County: This is worth knowing because AI-generated voices are getting very realistic, so be cautious if you receive an unexpected call or voicemail that sounds like a family member asking for money.
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New Mexico wants Meta to pay $40 billion in penalties for Cambridge Analytica scandal
New Mexico is suing Meta, the company that owns Facebook, seeking $40 billion in penalties tied to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which millions of users' data was harvested without their knowledge. The state's attorney argued the fine needs to be large enough to actually matter to a company Meta's size. For Portage County: If you use Facebook, this is a reminder to review your privacy settings and limit what personal information your account shares with outside apps.
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AT&T Acknowledges iPhone 18 Pro Max Issues: 'Update Immediately'
AT&T sent text messages to customers saying some iPhone 18 Pro Max phones on its network are having cellular problems and urging them to update to iOS 27.0.1 right away. Many affected users report the update does not fully fix the issue, and thousands have complained across Apple support forums. For Portage County: If you have an iPhone 18 Pro Max on AT&T and are having trouble with calls or data, go to Settings, General, Software Update and install any available update, then call Bill if problems continue.
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Critical FortiMail Zero-Day Flaw Exploited in Attacks Allows Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Writes
The U.S. government's cybersecurity agency added a serious flaw in Fortinet's FortiMail email security software to its list of actively exploited vulnerabilities, meaning real attackers are already using it. The flaw, rated nearly a perfect 9.8 out of 10 in severity, lets an outsider plant malicious files on an affected system without needing a password. For Portage County: This affects business and government email servers, not home users directly, but if your small business uses Fortinet products, contact your IT person today about applying the patch.
This digest is auto-generated daily at 6 AM ET from leading tech news sources.
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— Bill's Home Tech, Atwater, OH