![WhatsApp accuses Apple of app privacy label double-standards [Updated]](https://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/apple_privacy_apps-1280x720.jpg)
WhatsApp has criticized Apple for double-standards, arguing that the new privacy labels third-party apps will need to show should also be required for Apple's own software. The new labels - which borrow the concept of nutritional information on food, but focused on what data software collects on its users - will be required if developers want to have their titles included in Apple's App Store.
Social networks have repeatedly come under scrutiny by the US government but few are in danger of going out of business as TikTok is. Granted, the popular short video sharing platform would be able to continue its operations outside of the US in the worst-case scenario but losing such a large market could be fatal to the fledgling company. Thrice it has escaped a complete ban in the US but even as the final deadline lapses, TikTok remains in limbo even more than before.
We covered a bit about this hack earlier today - it's the one were a single code invades every iPhone within radio broadcast distance. There's another demonstration video you're going to need to see, too. This video was made by the same security researcher as the last one. This time, he makes the potential for chaos as clear as possible.
Earlier this year, a security researcher discovered a way to remotely hack any iOS device and steal all the data inside. Before we panic, be sure to take note that the vulnerability was fixed before May of 2020. Between then and now, there's very little chance you've not already downloaded the updates you needed to avoid this hack from ever having a chance to grab hold.
Some might presume that recent political changes in the US government might weaken the campaign against certain US companies but it is far too early to count those eggs. The current government still holds the power and, as far as the Trump administration is concerned, nothing has really changed. Huawei is still on its entity list and TikTok still risks getting banned next month. And according to a recent FCC order, ZTE remains a national security threat because of its potential to be used for state-sanctioned espionage.
Amazon is preparing to launch Amazon Sidewalk, its localized networks for Echo, Ring, and other devices, and it looks likely to be one of the most controversial products from retail behemoth so far. Echo owners have begun being notified by Amazon that Sidewalk shared networks are launching later in the year, along with apparent confirmation that it will be turned on by default.
A Facebook Messenger bug discovered earlier this year was revealed this week by a security researcher. This bug worked with the Facebook Messenger call system, taking advantage of a loophole that let an attacker make a phone call and auto-answer said call on the receiver's end. With this bug, an attacker could effectively listen to you through your phone without your knowledge.
Zoom has released a new scanning tool that hunts down publicly-shared meeting IDs, aiming to warn of potential "Zoombombing" incidents before they take place. The attacks - where uninvited participants join video calls, often sharing obscene content to disrupt meetings - have proliferated over the course of 2020, as online conferences take the place of in-person meetings.
Last week, Apple had a bit of an issue on its hands among the flood of people attempting to update to macOS Big Sur. As Apple's servers were overwhelmed, a number of Mac users discovered that they couldn't launch apps. This turned out to be an issue with Apple Gatekeeper, which verifies that developer certificates are still valid before you run an app on your Mac, in an attempt to make sure that you're about to run a legitimate application.
Prompted by the droves of people working from home, Google has spent much of 2020 rolling out some new features for Gmail. We've seen things like a new quick settings menu and even a unifying redesign for Gmail and Google's other apps, but today, users are getting a rather important new feature that allows them to quickly determine whether or not they want smart settings and personalization within Gmail turned on.
Once upon a time, Snapchat's unique feature was its ephemeral posts that helped protect user's privacy, especially for more compromising content. Since then, however, almost all social networks and instant messaging platforms have implemented a similar feature or at least tried to. It definitely took a while but Facebook is finally catching up and has announced a new Vanish Mode that's coming to its own Messenger app and Instagram in the coming days.
Oculus Virtual Reality Checks (VRCs) is a set of technical recommendations "designed to help developers create more accessible VR software." The company suggested today that this set of recommendations will allow developers to make their VR apps more compelling to more people. Areas of focus include audio, visuals, interactions, locomotion/movement, and "other aspects of accessible design."