Full Disk Access on macOS is a special permission that bypasses normal privacy protections so apps - typically backup and system tools - can read everything on a Mac, including files, email, messages, and browsing history. That level of access has been used beyond its intended purpose by some developers, creating the possibility that apps could expose or harvest sensitive user and contact data without users fully understanding the scope of what they’ve allowed. Communication apps in particular can jeopardize the privacy of people a user communicates with if granted such broad access.
To address those risks, Apple will add stricter controls so users who truly intend to grant Full Disk Access must take very explicit actions to do so. The change aims to preserve necessary functionality for legitimate backup and utility apps while preventing misuse that could expose vast amounts of personal data. Apple highlights that as AI agents become more capable and autonomous, the consequences of overly permissive access will grow, so ensuring users clearly understand and deliberately consent to this extraordinary level of access is essential for protecting privacy going forward.
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A federal judge in Oklahoma ruled that police using Flock's automated license plate reader system without a warrant violated the Fourth Amendment. The decision highlights concerns about the system's potential for indiscriminate mass surveillance, with over 100,000 warrantless searches conducted monthly. (404media.co)
ICE stored photos, license plates, and other data of protesters in a Palantir-built database called the Investigative Case Management system. Court filings reveal DHS agents used this database to track and intimidate observers during enforcement operations in Maine. (wired.com)
Apple will require explicit user actions for Mac apps to access full disk data, aiming to reduce security risks. This change comes as AI agents are deemed to substantially increase potential security vulnerabilities. (theverge.com)
Two vessels heading to the United States have been reportedly compromised by hackers. US officials are investigating the incidents involving these ships' cybersecurity breaches. (reuters.com)
A California tech executive has been arrested for allegedly smuggling $300 million worth of Nvidia chips to China. The case involves violations of export controls and sanctions related to the transfer of advanced semiconductor technology. (qz.com)
GrapheneOS fixed a major performance regression caused by Android 17 QPR1, which caused lag and freezes on Pixels. Google has been slow to release fixes for such issues, but GrapheneOS addressed it promptly and plans further improvements. (discuss.grapheneos.org)
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