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Debunking the Viral TikTok Myth: Apple Pay and AirDrop Security




Recent viral TikTok videos have raised unnecessary alarm among iPhone users by claiming that hackers can steal financial information from Apple Pay via AirDrop. According to these videos, simply having AirDrop enabled would allow a nearby stranger to gain access to sensitive credit card information. However, cybersecurity experts have thoroughly debunked these claims, confirming that they are baseless and entirely unfounded.

The central rumor suggests that if AirDrop is active on an iPhone, a hacker could exploit it to perform a so-called "walk-by hack," thereby gaining unauthorized access to financial data through Apple Pay. Viewers were urged to disable AirDrop to protect themselves from this imagined threat. Despite the buzz, experts, including reports by Apple Insider, have dismissed these claims as misinformation, emphasizing that AirDrop and Apple Pay function independently and cannot interact in the manner described.

AirDrop does not facilitate automatic data transfers, as it requires the recipient to manually accept incoming files. Additionally, the "Everyone" mode is only active for 10 minutes unless reactivated, with most users defaulting to "Contacts Only" or "Off" settings. Similarly, Apple Pay uses advanced encryption and secure technology that makes such a breach impossible. Each card added to Apple Pay generates a unique Device Account Number stored securely within the Secure Element—a tamper-proof chip designed to keep sensitive data isolated from the operating system. Transactions are further protected by biometric authentication like Face ID or Touch ID, along with dynamic security codes, ensuring card details are never reused or exposed.

The confusion surrounding this claim may stem from the introduction of Apple’s **NameDrop** feature in 2023. NameDrop allows users to exchange contact details by bringing two iPhones close together, but this feature only shares basic contact information—not financial data. While this new functionality may have caused some misunderstanding, there is no connection between NameDrop, AirDrop, or Apple Pay’s secure payment system.

Although the viral claims are false, users are encouraged to follow basic smartphone security practices to safeguard their devices. For instance, turning AirDrop off when not needed can reduce exposure to unwanted file sharing. It is also important to rely on trusted sources for information regarding potential security risks instead of viral social media posts. These steps, combined with Apple Pay’s robust security infrastructure, provide comprehensive protection for users’ financial information.

This incident underscores the importance of critically evaluating viral content before sharing it. Spreading unverified rumours can lead to unnecessary panic, despite the lack of credible evidence supporting such claims. Users can rest assured that Apple Pay remains one of the safest payment methods, supported by encryption, biometric authentication, and secure design principles.

Beware of Malicious USB-C Cables: Hidden Cyber Threats

 


In today's tech-driven world, charging cables are indispensable. However, recent findings about compromised USB-C cables have highlighted significant risks associated with third-party accessories. Security experts warn that hackers can embed tiny computers within ordinary-looking cables, transforming them into tools for cyberattacks.

What Makes These Cables Dangerous?

Hackers have developed methods to integrate small electronic components, such as Wi-Fi antennas and microchips, into USB-C cables. These cables appear and function like regular charging cables, allowing users to charge their devices or transfer data. However, behind the scenes, they can connect to the internet, monitor user activity, and even gain control of connected devices.

Security researcher Mike Grover, creator of the O.MG cable used in ethical hacking demonstrations, explains the risks: "A compromised cable could host keylogging software to capture everything typed on a device, deploy malware, or extract sensitive data—all without the user's knowledge. It looks just like a real cable."

The Role of CT Scans in Exposing Threats

Specialized CT scanning has shed light on the internal components of malicious USB-C cables. Lumafield, a company specializing in CT scans, recently analyzed one such cable. The high-quality scans revealed stacks of chips and an embedded Wi-Fi antenna hidden inside the cable. Despite these modifications, the cable's appearance and size remain unchanged, making it nearly impossible to identify visually.

How to Stay Safe

To protect against these threats, experts recommend the following precautions:

  • Use authentic accessories: Always purchase cables and chargers directly from the original manufacturers. For example, iPhone users should stick to Apple-approved cables, while Android and laptop users should do the same for their respective brands.
  • Avoid public charging stations: Refrain from using cables or ports found in public places like airports or coffee shops, as these could have been tampered with.
  • Invest in a battery pack: Carrying a personal battery pack reduces the need to use public charging points, minimizing the risk of exposure.

While not every cable or charging port is compromised, it's nearly impossible to identify malicious ones without advanced tools. By remaining vigilant and using trusted accessories, you can protect your devices and data from these sophisticated cyber threats.

Nvidia Climbs to Second Place in Global Market Value, Surpassing Apple

 


This month, Nvidia has achieved a historic achievement by overtaking Apple to become the world's second most valuable company, a feat that has only been possible because of the overwhelming demand for its advanced chips that are used to handle artificial intelligence tasks. A staggering $1.8 trillion has been added to the market value of the Santa Clara, California-based company's shares over the past year, increasing its market value by a staggering 147% this year. 

Nvidia has achieved a market capitalisation of over $3 trillion as a result of this surge, becoming the first semiconductor company to achieve this milestone. The value of Nvidia's shares has skyrocketed over the past few years, making it the second most valuable company in the world and larger than Apple, thanks to its surge in value. As a consequence of the excitement regarding artificial intelligence, which is largely based on Nvidia chips, the company has seen its shares rise dramatically over the past few years.

The popularity of the company has resulted in it becoming the largest company in Silicon Valley, which has led it to replace Apple, which has seen its share price fall due to concerns regarding iPhone sales in China and other concerns. Several weeks from now, Nvidia will be split ten times for ten shares, a move that could greatly increase the appeal of its stock to investors on a personal level. Nvidia’s surge over Apple’s market value signals a shift in Silicon Valley, where the co-founded company by Steve Jobs has dominated the field since the iPhone was launched in 2007. While Apple gained 0.78 per cent, the world’s most valuable company, Microsoft gained 1.91 per cent in value. 

As a result of the company’s graphics processing units fuelling a boom in artificial intelligence (AI), Nvidia’s rally continues an extraordinary streak of gains for the company. There has been a 260 per cent increase in revenue for the company in recent years, as tech titans such as Microsoft, Meta, Google, and Amazon race to implement artificial intelligence. 

Last month, Nvidia announced a 10-for-1 stock split as a way of making stock ownership more accessible to employees and investors. In the first half of this year, Nvidia shares have more than doubled in value after almost tripling in value in 2023. With the implementation of the split on Friday, the company will be able to appeal to a larger number of small-time investors, as the company's shares will become even more attractive. 

As a consequence of Microsoft, Meta Platforms, and Alphabet, all of these major tech companies are eager to enhance their artificial intelligence capabilities, which is why Nvidia's stock price has surged 147% in 2024. According to recent revenue estimates, the company's stock has gained close to $150 million in market capitalisation in one day, which is more than the entire market capitalization of AT&T. As well as a 4.5% increase in the PHLX chip index, many companies have benefited from the current optimism surrounding artificial intelligence, including Super Micro Computer, which builds AI-optimized servers using Nvidia chips. 

During his visit to the Computex tech fair in Taiwan, former Taipei resident Jensen Huang, chairman & CEO of Nvidia, received extensive media coverage that highlighted both his influence on the company's growing importance as well as his association with the event. Compared to Apple, there are challenges facing Apple due to weak demand for iPhones in China and stiff competition from its Chinese competitors. According to some analysts, Apple misses out on incorporating AI features compared to other tech giants because the company has been so slow in incorporating them. 

According to LSEG data, Nvidia's stock trades today at 39 times expected earnings, but the stock is still considered less expensive than a year ago, when the stock traded at more than 70 times expected earnings, indicating it's less expensive than it used to be.

Investigating the Potential Benefits of Periodic iPhone Shutdowns

 


Even though people rely on smartphones and iPhones to communicate, entertain, and be productive, many users fail to turn off their iPhones regularly. Despite this, they still use them for communication, entertainment, and productivity. As simple as this is a practice, it can make a significant difference in users' device’s performance, security, and storage efficiency. 

Users should be sure that they turn off their iPhones regularly as a way of enhancing their security, which is one of the primary reasons users should turn off regularly. A proactive approach to protecting personal information and data is crucial to preventing cyber threats that are becoming increasingly sophisticated in recent years. 

To effectively disrupt any malicious activity on users' iPhones, such as zero-click exploits or phishing attacks, it is necessary to shut down users' devices. It is by taking this simple action that users can add another layer of security to users iPhones, providing a layer of protection against potential threats. It is important to keep in mind that a weekly reboot can help mitigate the risks associated with malware that has been compromised without users' knowledge, for example, if a user's device has been compromised without their knowledge. 

The software prevents malware from constantly running in the background to steal sensitive information or cause users' devices to further damage. In addition, users must turn their iPhones off regularly to clear their RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is a type of temporary storage system that users' devices use to store data to be accessed quickly. It is common for iPhone users to use a variety of apps and features on their devices to store temporary data as they use them to make their phones run smoothly. 

However, when this happens, the RAM can become cluttered with unwanted data over time, resulting in performance issues as a result. If users regularly shut down their iPhones, they will be able to effectively clear the RAM, which will resolve the issue with frozen or malfunctioning apps. As a result of this procedure, users' devices can function more smoothly, with improved response times and reduced crashes due to the elimination of temporary data that may be causing conflicts or consuming valuable memory resources. 

 Rebooting the iPhone can not only help with improving RAM, but it can also help with managing storage space, as the device accumulates temporary files, cache data, and other system-related files as users use their device. These files can occupy significant amounts of storage space, so it is a good idea to optimize RAM. Users will need these files for their iPhones to operate properly, but they can also occupy valuable space that might otherwise be used to store important documents, photos, or apps. 

Essentially, by turning off the iPhone regularly, users can allow the device to process some of these temporary files and as a result, clear up some of the device's storage space. Especially beneficial is this feature for users who don't have a lot of space and/or who frequently get the dreaded "storage full" message since they have limited storage capacity. Users can ensure that their iPhones will always have adequate storage space by incorporating regular shutdowns into their routines so they can be sure they will be able to store the data that is most important to them. 

Performance Enhancement of Overall Devices A considerable benefit of regularly turning off your iPhone is that it will perform better as a whole, which is perhaps the most noticeable benefit of this practice. A variety of background processes and apps can accumulate on your iPhone as a result of it running continuously without receiving a break, resulting in a gradual slowdown of its performance over time.

Although the speed and responsiveness of users' devices may not be directly affected by these processes, cumulatively they can have an impact on the device's speed and responsiveness over time. If users turn off their iPhones every week, they can effectively refresh their phones' operating systems, removing unnecessary background processes, and giving their devices a fresh start by cleaning up the background processes. Using this approach can lead to a noticeable increase in speed, responsiveness, and overall functionality, as well as improved performance. 

For older iPhone models, it can prove particularly beneficial, since they may be unable to keep up with the latest software updates and app requirements that are coming out frequently. As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that users turn their iPhones off for 5 minutes once a week to strike a balance between maintaining the device's performance and minimizing disruptions to their daily routines. 

Using the Hardware Buttons on the iPhone: Using the hardware buttons is a much more convenient way to turn off your iPhone compared to turning it off via the Settings app (Settings > General > Shut Down) or otherwise utilising the hardware buttons on your phone (hold either volume button and side button until the power off slider appears). 

A recent study suggests that routinely powering down iPhones can yield a multitude of advantages, contributing to improved device performance, enhanced security, and optimized storage utilization. This practice, when integrated into a user's regular maintenance routine, may offer a multifaceted approach to iPhone care. The study posits that periodically shutting down the device can mitigate potential cyber threats. By clearing temporary system files and processes, a restart may eliminate vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious software. 

Additionally, powering down the iPhone is believed to optimize Random Access Memory (RAM) usage. RAM acts as the device's short-term memory, and continuous operation can lead to its fragmentation, potentially impacting performance. A restart clears the RAM, allowing the operating system to allocate resources more efficiently. Furthermore, the study indicates that regularly turning off the iPhone can contribute to improved storage efficiency. 

Applications and processes can generate temporary files that accumulate over time, consuming valuable storage space. A restart can help clear these temporary files, potentially freeing up space for essential data and applications. In conclusion, the study underscores the potential benefits of incorporating routine iPhone shutdowns into a user's maintenance regimen. By potentially mitigating security risks, optimizing RAM usage, and enhancing storage efficiency, this practice may contribute to a more secure, responsive, and streamlined user experience.