Update your iPhone to avoid this massive security flaw

Apple has fixed three major security flaws that existed in its operating systems.

iPhone and iPad users are being urged to upgrade their version of iOS to 9.3.5 after the vulnerabilities were exploited by a hacking group.

An Israel-based "cyber war" company, NSO Group, was found by researchers at Citizen Lab and Lookout to be using zero-day exploits to target a human rights activist.

Lawyer Ahmed Mansoor, who is based in the United Arab Emirates, was sent a suspicious text message on August 10 2016, which asked him to click a link telling him to find out more information about people detained in the country. This was followed by a second message a day later.

Citizen Lab identified the domain the text message linked to as being one owned by the NSO group. "When we clicked the link, we saw that it was indeed active, and watched as unknown software was remotely implanted on our phone," the researchers said.

"This suggested that the link contained a zero-day iPhone remote jailbreak: a chain of heretofore unknown exploits used to remotely circumvent iPhone security measures."

This means that anyone who had clicked the link sent by the NSO Group would have their iOS device infected and phone controlled, as well as data being accessed remotely.

Lookout Security confirmed the existence of the previously unknown exploit and Apple issued the patch 10 days later. While Mansoor was using an iPhone 6, the updated iOS will patch iPhones from the 4S upwards.

"Once infected, Mansoor’s phone would have become a digital spy in his pocket, capable of employing his iPhone’s camera and microphone to snoop on activity in the vicinity of the device, recording his WhatsApp and Viber calls, logging messages sent in mobile chat apps, and tracking his movements," Citizen Lab says in its blog post.

In a short security blog post, Apple addressed three vulnerabilities highlighted by the two teams of researchers. Two Kernel flaws and one WebKit flaw was highlighted. "Visiting a maliciously crafted website may lead to arbitrary code execution," Apple explained in the post.

To update to the latest version of iOS, users should access the Settings application on iPhones and iPads, followed by 'General' and 'Software Update'.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review:

When Samsung's first Galaxy Note arrived back in 2011, it was a category-defining monster of a handset at time when most manufacturers weren't generally putting screens larger than 4.5-inches on a device.

Fast forward five years and the 5.3-inch screen has grown into a 5.7-inch panel, it's been waterproofed and Samsung's touting it as the best 'big' phone ever made.

But does the Galaxy Note 7 offer enough to justify its ultra premium, £740 price tag?

Design and hardware

uch a large screen calls for some thoughtful design, and while Samsung has certainly incorporated features from its Galaxy line, it has also made improvements. For example, the handset features a double-edge design, making it more comfortable to hold than the Galaxy S6 or S7 Edge by rounding out the square rear.

The Quad HD (2460 x 1440, 518 PPI) display supports High Dynamic Range content, allowing you to watch films with the brightest whites and deepest blacks. This is the sort of future-proofing that you want in a phone, even if content is a little hard to find right now.

Both the front and back of the phone are covered in Gorilla Glass 5 panels, giving it a better chance of surviving when you inevitably drop it. And as someone who uses an S7 Edge as my everyday phone, what particularly struck me is how the Note 7 somehow manages to feel even more premium than this previous model. This may be down to the additional 12 grams it weighs, giving it a total weight of 169 grams. The S7 Edge weighs 159g by comparison, while the iPhone 6s Plus weighs 192g and the smaller 6s weighs 143g.

Samsung's S Pen

One of the major upgrades for the Note 7, beyond its design, is the S Pen. It has a narrower, more sensitive tip than previous models and Samsung has decided to side-step the embarrassing problem of being able to break your phone by inserting the S Pen the wrong way around.

While I've never necessarily been a daily user of the stylus when testing a phone equipped with one (I just don't feel the need to annotate my photos or write notes in handwriting that often), the Note 7 does a great job of bringing in even a user like me.

It's now far more likely that I'll use the S Pen's new hover functions to record a video clip of a film playing on my screen and automatically turn it into a GIF for sharing, as well as translating a word on-the-fly.

Iris scanner

One of the things that truly makes the Note 7 stand apart from rivals is the iris scanner, in addition to the fingerprint scanner which has become almost standard for flagship devices.

In WIRED's test, the iris scanner performed surprisingly reliably – it's worth noting though that I don't wear glasses, which can make things trickier – but taking the scanner outdoors into bright sunlight tripped it up and I had to resort to unlocking it with a PIN.

Note 7's waterproof case

The Note 7's other, slightly less unique, feature is that its casing is waterproof. While it may not survive a long swim in the sea, it would likely manage a quick dip in the shallows.

This means the Note 7 is amazingly useful in the UK's changeable and frequently dreary weather. If it rains, you don't need to stop using your phone and it will mostly respond accurately despite your wet fingers, unlike with a non-waterproof handset.

Taking it into the shower, therefore, might become part of your daily routine if you just can't tear yourself away from the morning podcast or playlist.

Camera

For the camera, Samsung's stuck with the same 12MP dual-sensor setup found on the S7 and S7 Edge. It's a testament to the rest of the phone to say that the camera isn't really a standout feature, but that's not to say it doesn't deliver.

It's quick to capture images, colours are accurate and vibrant and there's a host of built-in filters and options to play around with, which might cut down on the need for third-party apps and free up space on your phone.

The same is true of the front-facing 5MP snapper too. If you're looking for a phone that can show off your selfies in the best way, the Note 7 isn't going to let you down and those built-in filters will probably come in handy once again.

Battery life

While taking constant photos and watching videos on such a large screen will have a knock-on effect on battery life, considering the size and resolution of the display, it's not as significant as you might fear. The 3,500mAh battery, while 100 mAh smaller than that of the S7 Edge, does a fine job in keeping the device powered through a full day of intense use.

If you're a more moderate user, you should get an easy day-and-a-half out of the battery before needing to charge, and if you're a really occasional user, the handset could last as long as a couple of days.

Conclusions

The Galaxy Note 7 does what so, so many large-screen phones have tried to do before it, but it's the first one to truly achieve it: it's made large phones beautiful.

This ring can help stop the spread of HIV in women

In the ongoing fight against HIV, researchers claim to have discovered a method of significantly reducing the risk of women contracting the disease.

When used consistently for a month at a time, tests show that a vaginal ring containing an antiretroviral (ARV) drug called dapivirine can provide significant protection against HIV. In particular, among women who appeared to use the ring most regularly, HIV risk was cut by more than half, and in some, by 75 per cent or more.

The results come from the Aspire study (A Study to Prevent Infection with a Ring for Extended Use) announced at The International Conference on AIDS (AIDS 2016) in Durban, South Africa.

The new results, based on additional analyses, suggest the dapivirine ring may be far more effective when used most or all the time, according to researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Microbicide Trials Network.

Vaginal rings are flexible items that fit high up inside the vagina where they release a medication slowly over time. The ring tested as part of Aspire contains 25mg of dapivirine, about 4mg of which gets released over 28 days.

The ring is meant to be used for a month at a time, and women can insert and remove it themselves. The dapivirine ring was developed by the nonprofit International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM).

Use and adherence was measured using blood tests specifically looking for the presence of the drug in samples from the participants' quarterly visits. After a year, the amount of residual drug remaining in used rings was also monitored. The analysis presented at AIDS 2016 included 2,359 women and data from more than 12,000 returned rings.

Flash is (almost) dead,Chrome is finally ditching Adobe's software

Google Chrome is to start phasing out Adobe's Flash in favour of HTML5, which will be the default choice by December.

The long goodbye is due to start in September, with the introduction of Google Chrome 53, which is currently in beta testing mode.

"Today, more than 90 per cent of Flash on the web loads behind the scenes to support things like page analytics," explained Google curator of Flash in Chrome Anthony LaForge in a blog post.

"This kind of Flash slows you down, and starting this September, Chrome 53 will begin to block it. HTML5 is much lighter and faster, and publishers are switching over to speed up page loading and save you more battery life. You’ll see an improvement in responsiveness and efficiency for many sites."

Google originally unveiled plans to block Flash by default back in May.

By the time Chrome 55 lands in December, HTML5 will be the only option for Chrome users with exceptions made for sites that only support Flash.

Chrome users visiting a Flash-based site will be prompted to turn it on for that particular page, while HTML5 will be the default.

Users will only need to manually fire up the plugin the first time that they use a Flash site, after which Chrome will note the approval for future visits.

Chrome is the latest browser to ditch Adobe's multimedia software, with Apple's Safari and Microsoft's Edge having already moved away from Flash.

Fitbit Alta review:

THE GOOD The Fitbit Alta is a stylish fitness tracker with swappable bands, basic phone notifications and week-long battery life. The new "Move" alerts bring something new. Fitbit's software is still one of our favorites, and has the largest social base as well.

THE BAD There's no heart-rate sensor, and it can't be worn in the shower. The tracker is expensive for what it can do and so are the accessory straps. The display is difficult to see outdoors and is susceptible to scratches, and notifications are hard to read.

THE BOTTOM LINE While ultimately a more stylish (but heart-rate free) version of the older Charge HR, the Fitbit Alta is a winning fitness tracker with solid style appeal.

You can spot a Fitbit from across the room. The Fitbit Charge HR and Surge, the company's two most popular trackers, aren't exactly jewerly, and I would never be caught wearing one to a wedding or another formal event. But Fitbit is changing.

In addition to the new Fitbit Blaze smartwatch, the Alta is the company's most visually appealing tracker thus far. It's slim, has a nice big display, supports a variety of interchangeable bands and does all the basics (tracks steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes and sleep).

It would be my favorite Fitbit or quite possibly favorite tracker overall if it was a bit cheaper. The Fitbit Alta costs $130 (£100, AU$200). Initially that doesn't sound too bad, but when you consider the older Charge HR is often discounted to around the same price, it makes you stop and think.

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 review

THE GOOD The Surface Pro 4 fits a larger screen with a higher resolution into a slightly slimmer body than last year's model. The pen and keyboard cover are also improved, and this is one of the first mobile systems shipping with Intel's latest processors.

THE BAD Microsoft still refuses to include the Type Cover keyboard by default, forcing a separate purchase. Battery life still isn't enough for a full day.

THE BOTTOM LINE A host of small refinements cements the Surface Pro 4's position as the best-in-class Windows tablet -- so long as you're prepared to pay extra for the required keyboard cover accessory.

After years of development and millions of advertising dollars spent to convince us that a tablet could plausibly replace a laptop, Microsoft finally delivered the goods with the Surface Pro 4. Equipped with robust processing power, a perfectly sized display and just-right aspect ratio, and a few critical add-on accessories, the Pro 4 solidified the Surface's position as the gold standard for Windows tablets. And with the arrival of Windows 10 in July 2015, that which blemished all previous Surface models -- an inelegant operating system -- was finally replaced by a solid OS that could fulfill the potential of its form factor.

In fact, in a surprising turn, the Surface line has become something of a category trailblazer. Apple'siPad Pro and Google's Pixel C have lately borrowed envelope-pushing features like the Surface's snap-on keyboard and multitasking chops. In the meantime, Microsoft has brought out its first-ever laptop, the competent Surface Book, while rumors about the next generation, the Surface Pro 5, continue to smolder. And in June, the company sweetened the deal for the back-to-school set, offering students a free Xbox One with the purchase of a Surface Pro 4.

The new Firefox

Whether you're fed up with Chrome spinning up your computer's fans just to load Facebook, or Safari just isn't your jam, Firefox is a great browser alternative for any operating system. While it may not be considered the fastest browser around (even that's changing), it's reliable, highly customizable and has a long list of add-ons and extensions that can even further improve your browsing experience.

With tens of thousands of extensions to choose from, it can be overwhelming to narrow down which ones you should install or pass on.

We've done the hard work for you. Here are some of the most useful extensions you can install to make Firefox even better.

Productivity

Evernote Web Clipper

If you're an Evernote user, you're doing a disservice to yourself if you haven't installed the Evernote Web Clipper. It allows you to save a screenshot, an article, the full page or a bookmark from any website, all with the click of a button. It also uses a smart filing option to fill in relevant information, such as a notebook where you might want to save the clipping or by adding tags automatically, based on the context of the page.

I use this when researching a topic, researching a large purchase or saving a site I think might disappear before I remember to come back to it.

Pocket and Instapaper

Pocket and Instapaper also have extensions for Firefox, which allow you to save a page to your account with a single click. As of last year, Pocket is baked into Firefox, so if you prefer to use Instapaper, you will need to add the third-party extension called Paper. Once you connect your account in the Add-On settings, click the button in the Toolbar and the article will be saved to your Instapaper account.

Utility

Lazarus

Lazarus is a true lifesaver. If you're filling in forms, answering questions or writing anything in a text field in your browser and you accidentally close the page (or worse, the browser crashes), Lazarus will recover the text you entered before the page was closed.

Tab Mix Plus

If Firefox's tab settings don't offer enough features to suit your needs, install Tab Mix Plus. It offers dozens of settings for how tabs operate.

For instance, if you prefer all links to open in a new tab, there's a setting for that. There's also the option to open only links from different sites (from the current page) in a new tab. The settings are very expansive, so if the stock settings don't work for you, this extension should be able to help you accomplish what you need.

Tile Tabs

If you want to look at two (or more) websites side by side, Tile Tabs is your best bet. Instead of opening two separate browser windows, you can place two tabs in a split-screen view, either side by side or above and below one another.

URL Fixer

Sometimes you get ahead of yourself and mistype a URL, like google.con instead of google.com; it happens. URL Fixer is a simple extension that steps in to help when you make a common mistake when entering a URL into the address bar.

StartHQ

StartHQ is one of the most compelling new tab page extensions I've come across. Using a single search field, it allows you to search across the Web and all your cloud accounts, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, Twitter, Instagram, Pocket, IFTTT and much more. It takes a little getting used to and requires some setup, but it's well worth it in the end.

Imagus

If ever you should want to take a closer look at a thumbnail, the extension you need is Imagus. Hover your cursor over a thumbnail and Imagus will expand the image to a much larger view. It's a very lightweight and simple extension that has proven itself infinitely useful.

Pushbullet

You may already be familiar with Pushbullet if you're an Android user. It's one of the easiest ways to send files and content from the Web from your computer to your phone, or vice versa.

If you come across a page you want to view from your phone, hit the Pushbullet icon in the Toolbar and hit send to push it to all your connected devices. You can also use it to send text messages with your phone from your browser or share links with friends.

Privacy and security

Disconnect

To speed up your Web browsing and stop tracking by advertisers (or worse), use Disconnect. It allows you to block otherwise invisible tracking of your search and browsing history as well as malware, if you purchase the pro or premium upgrade.

LastPass

I don't know any of my passwords, because I use a password manager. While there are several available across multiple platforms, one of the most compatible is LastPass. The extension in Firefox will allow you to automatically login to any accounts you have added in LastPass, generate new passwords and save your credentials when signing up for services. It can also auto-fill forms, like addresses and billing information, when purchasing items.

Shopping

The Camelizer

It's easy to assume the item that just went on sale on Amazon is probably the cheapest you can find it. But if you install The Camelizer, you will know for sure. The Camelizer shows the product's pricing history, so you can know that you're getting the best deal.

Honey

Honey provides you with coupon codes when checking out with dozens of online retailers. Once you've reached the checkout page, a Honey popup will appear, asking if you would like to check some of the most popular coupon codes. When you enable it, Honey will automatically attempt to apply each of the codes and, if any of them work, it will apply the best one. It's genius, almost fully automatic, painless to use and saves you money. There's no reason not to install Honey.

Social

Buffer

If you've got several social media accounts to manage, Buffer is a fantastic way to keep track of and schedule future content to keep your feeds flowing. The Buffer extension makes sharing pages and articles to Buffer much easier. Use the hotkey command Alt + B to bring up the extension, select which accounts you want to share to, type a quick caption and hit Add to Queue.

ipad pro 9.7 inch

THE GOOD The new iPad Pro delivers a fast processor; a bright, antireflective display; support for Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard accessories; better, louder speakers and top-notch cameras, in the same exact body as the iPad Air 2.

THE BAD A higher price, plus expensive accessories. Less RAM and a slightly slower processor than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. iOS still limits overall flexibility of this iPad.

THE BOTTOM LINE It's still not a full-fledged laptop killer, but the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro is the best iPad ever made -- a near-perfect balance of tablet power and portability.

Take last year's largest-ever iPad, shrink it down to the more traditional 9.7-inch size, add an even better camera and screen, and you've got the new 2016 iPad Pro. It starts at $599, £499 or AU$899 for the 32GB Wi-Fi model -- and it's the iPad I'd buy if I were in the market for a newtablet right now.