Technology
Don’t ignore Apple’s urgent security update
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If you use an iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch or Apple TV, listen up. Apple has released a major security update to fix a zero-day vulnerability, which is a security hole that hackers discover and exploit before the company has a chance to fix it.
Attackers were already using it in targeted attacks. In other words, this was not just a possibility. It was happening.
The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-20700, affects multiple Apple operating systems. If you have delayed updates lately, this is one you should not ignore.
If you own an Android or Windows PC, this is also a good reminder to check for updates.
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APPLE PATCHES TWO ZERO-DAY FLAWS USED IN TARGETED ATTACKS
Apple’s latest security updates affect iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV, so now is the time to check every device you own. (iStock)
What is CVE-2026-20700 and why it matters
CVE-2026-20700 is a memory corruption vulnerability affecting:
- iOS 26.3
- iPadOS 26.3
- macOS Tahoe 26.3
- watchOS 26.3
- tvOS 26.3
- visionOS 26.3
In simple terms, this bug could allow an attacker to run arbitrary code on your device. That opens the door to spyware, hidden backdoors or silent takeovers without obvious warning signs. Apple says this vulnerability was used as part of an infection chain combined with two previously patched flaws against devices running older versions of iOS. Those earlier bugs were fixed in December 2025. Devices that skipped those updates remained exposed. This is how many real attacks unfold. Hackers chain vulnerabilities together and quietly move in.
Which devices need updating?
Here is a breakdown of the available updates:
- iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 for iPhone 11 and later, plus newer iPads
- iOS 18.7.5 and iPadOS 18.7.5 for iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and iPad 7th generation
- macOS Tahoe 26.3, Sequoia 15.7.4, Sonoma 14.8.4
- tvOS 26.3 for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K
- watchOS 26.3 for Apple Watch Series 6 and later
- visionOS 26.3 for Apple Vision Pro
- Safari 26.3 for supported macOS versions
If your device qualifies, update it as soon as possible.
Why this update deserves attention
Security updates can feel routine. Many of us see the notification and decide to deal with it later. This time is different. Apple confirmed the flaw was actively exploited. That means attackers already know how to use it. Running older software gives them a window of opportunity. Updating closes that window.
How to update your iPhone or iPad
Updating takes only a few minutes.
- Go to Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Software Update
- If an update appears, tap Download and Install
- Turn on Automatic Updates so you do not miss future fixes
Keep your device connected to Wi-Fi and power during the process.
APPLE WARNS MILLIONS OF IPHONES ARE EXPOSED TO ATTACK
Once you reach this screen on your iPhone, tap Update Now to install Apple’s latest security fix immediately. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to update your Mac
- Click the Apple menu in the upper left corner
- Choose System Settings or System Preferences
- Select General
- Click Software Update
- If an update appears, select Restart Now or Update Tonight
Your Mac may restart during the process. Keep it plugged in and connected to the internet until the update finishes.
Mac users will see options like Update Tonight or Restart Now, and installing this update closes a flaw already exploited in attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to update Apple Watch
- Keep your Watch on its charger and near your iPhone
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone
- Tap General
- Tap Software Update
- Tap Download and Install if available
Your Watch will restart during the update.
Your Apple Watch also receives critical security fixes, so keep it on the charger and update it just like your iPhone. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How to update Apple TV
- Open Settings on Apple TV
- Go to System
- Select Software Updates
- Choose Update Software
- Select Download and Install
Stay connected to power and Wi Fi until the update completes.
How to update Safari
Safari updates are included with macOS updates.
- Go to the Apple menu
- Click System Settings
- Select General
- Click Software Update
If Safari appears separately, click Update Now and restart your Mac.
How to update your Apple Vision Pro
- Put on your Vision Pro and open the Settings app.
- Select General from the sidebar.
- Tap Software Update.
- If an update appears for visionOS 26.3, choose Download and Install.
- Make sure your Vision Pro stays charged and connected to Wi-Fi until the update completes.
MALICIOUS MAC EXTENSIONS STEAL CRYPTO WALLETS AND PASSWORDS
Ways to stay safe
Installing this update is the most important step. Still, there are additional habits that strengthen your protection.
- Turn on automatic updates for every Apple device
- Restart devices regularly to clear temporary processes
- Avoid clicking unsolicited links or attachments, and use strong antivirus software. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
- Remember, Apple threat notifications will never ask for passwords or verification codes
- Be cautious when viewing HTML-formatted emails in Apple Mail
- Consider enabling Lockdown Mode if you face a higher risk
Cybercriminals rely on hesitation. They count on us assuming we will get to the update later.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Apple moved fast to fix this vulnerability, and that is reassuring. Now it is up to us to do our part. I get it. Updates interrupt your day. They force a restart. They rarely feel urgent. But here is the thing. Installing updates is still the simplest and most effective way to protect your device from active threats. A few minutes now can prevent a serious security problem later.
What is your biggest reason for delaying updates, and has it ever cost you? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Here’s your first look at Kratos in Amazon’s God of War show
Amazon has slowly been teasing out casting details for its live-action adaptation of God of War, and now we have our first look at the show. It’s a single image but a notable one showing protagonist Kratos and his son Atreus. The characters are played by Ryan Hurst and Callum Vinson, respectively, and they look relatively close to their video game counterparts.
There aren’t a lot of other details about the show just yet, but this is Amazon’s official description:
The God of War series storyline follows father and son Kratos and Atreus as they embark on a journey to spread the ashes of their wife and mother, Faye. Through their adventures, Kratos tries to teach his son to be a better god, while Atreus tries to teach his father how to be a better human.
That sounds a lot like the recent soft reboot of the franchise, which started with 2018’s God of War and continued through Ragnarök in 2022. For the Amazon series, Ronald D. Moore, best-known for his work on For All Mankind and Battlestar Galactica, will serve as showrunner. The rest of the cast includes: Mandy Patinkin (Odin), Ed Skrein (Baldur), Max Parker (Heimdall), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (Thor), Teresa Palmer (Sif), Alastair Duncan (Mimir), Jeff Gulka (Sindri), and Danny Woodburn (Brok).
While production is underway on the God of War series, there’s no word on when it might start streaming.
Technology
300,000 Chrome users hit by fake AI extensions
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Your web browser may feel like a safe place, especially when you install helpful tools that promise to make your life easier. But security researchers have uncovered a dangerous campaign in which more than 300,000 people installed Chrome extensions pretending to be artificial intelligence (AI) assistants. Instead of helping, these fake tools secretly collect sensitive information like your emails, passwords and browsing activity.
They used familiar names like ChatGPT, Gemini and AI Assistant. If you use Chrome and have installed any AI-related extension, your personal information may already be exposed. Even worse, some of these malicious extensions are still available today, putting more people at risk without their knowing.
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More than 300,000 Chrome users installed fake AI extensions that secretly harvested sensitive data. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know about fake AI extensions
Security researchers at browser security company LayerX discovered a large campaign involving 30 malicious Chrome extensions disguised as AI-powered assistants (via BleepingComputer). Together, these extensions were installed more than 300,000 times by unsuspecting users.
Some of the most popular extensions included names like AI Sidebar with 70,000 users, AI Assistant with 60,000 users, ChatGPT Translate with 30,000 users, and Google Gemini with 10,000 users. Another extension called Gemini AI Sidebar had 80,000 users before it was removed.
These extensions were distributed through the official Chrome Web Store, which made them appear legitimate and trustworthy. Even more concerning, researchers found that many of these extensions were connected to the same malicious server, showing they were part of a coordinated effort.
While some extensions have since been removed, others remain available. This means new users could still unknowingly install them and expose their personal data. Here’s the list of the affected extensions:
- AI Assistant
- Llama
- Gemini AI Sidebar
- AI Sidebar
- ChatGPT Sidebar
- Grok
- Asking ChatGPT
- ChatGBT
- Chat Bot GPT
- Grok Chatbot
- Chat With Gemini
- XAI
- Google Gemini
- Ask Gemini
- AI Letter Generator
- AI Message Generator
- AI Translator
- AI For Translation
- AI Cover Letter Generator
- AI Image Generator ChatGPT
- Ai Wallpaper Generator
- Ai Picture Generator
- DeepSeek Download
- AI Email Writer
- Email Generator AI
- DeepSeek Chat
- ChatGPT Picture Generator
- ChatGPT Translate
- AI GPT
- ChatGPT Translation
- ChatGPT for Gmail
FAKE AI CHAT RESULTS ARE SPREADING DANGEROUS MAC MALWARE
These malicious tools were listed in the official Chrome Web Store, making them appear legitimate and trustworthy. (LayerX)
How the fake AI Chrome extension attack works
These fake extensions pretend to offer helpful AI features, such as translating text, summarizing emails, or acting as an AI assistant. But behind the scenes, they quietly monitor what you are doing online.
Once installed, the extension gains permission to view and interact with the websites you visit. This allows it to read the contents of web pages, including login screens where you enter your username and password.
In some cases, the extensions specifically targeted Gmail. They could read your email messages directly from your browser, including emails you received and even drafts you were still writing. This means attackers could access private conversations, financial information and sensitive personal details.
The extensions then sent this information to servers controlled by the attackers. Because they loaded content remotely, the attackers could change their behavior at any time without needing to update the extension.
Some versions could also activate voice features through your browser. This could potentially capture spoken conversations near your device and send transcripts back to the attackers.
If you installed one of these extensions, attackers may already have access to extremely sensitive information. This includes your email content, login credentials, browsing habits and possibly even voice recordings.
We reached out to Google for comment, and a spokesperson told CyberGuy that the company “can confirm that the extensions from this report have all been removed from the Google Web Store.”
BROWSER EXTENSION MALWARE INFECTED 8.8M USERS IN DARKSPECTRE ATTACK
Once installed, the extensions could read emails, capture passwords, monitor browsing activity and send the data to attacker-controlled servers. (Bildquelle/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
7 ways you can protect yourself from malicious Chrome extensions
If you have ever installed an AI-related Chrome extension, taking a few simple precautions now can help protect your accounts and prevent further damage.
1) Remove any suspicious or unused browser extensions
On a Windows PC or Mac, open Chrome and type chrome://extensions into the address bar. Review every extension listed. If you see anything unfamiliar, especially AI assistants you don’t remember installing, click “Remove” immediately. Malicious extensions depend on going unnoticed. Removing them stops further data collection and cuts off the attacker’s access to your information.
2) Change your passwords
If you installed any suspicious extension, assume your passwords may be compromised. Start by changing your email password first, since email controls access to most other accounts. Then update passwords for banking, shopping and social media accounts. This prevents attackers from using stolen credentials to break into your accounts.
3) Use a password manager to create and protect strong passwords
A password manager generates unique, complex passwords for each account and stores them securely. This prevents attackers from accessing multiple accounts if one password is stolen. Password managers also alert you if your login credentials appear in known data breaches, helping you respond quickly and protect your identity. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at Cyberguy.com.
4) Install strong antivirus software and keep it active
Good antivirus software can detect malicious browser extensions, spyware, and other hidden threats. It scans your system for suspicious activity and blocks harmful programs before they can steal your information. This adds an important layer of protection that works continuously in the background to keep your device safe. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
5) Use an identity theft protection service
Identity theft protection services monitor your personal data, including email addresses, financial accounts, and Social Security numbers, for signs of misuse. If criminals try to open accounts or commit fraud using your information, you receive alerts quickly. Early detection allows you to act fast and limit financial and personal damage. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.
6) Keep your browser and computer fully updated
Software updates fix security vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. Enable automatic updates for Chrome and your operating system so you always have the latest protections. These updates strengthen your defenses against malicious extensions and prevent attackers from taking advantage of known weaknesses.
7) Use a personal data removal service
Personal data removal services scan data broker websites that collect and sell your personal information. They help remove your data from these sites, reducing what attackers can find and use against you. Less exposed information means fewer opportunities for criminals to target you with scams, identity theft or phishing attacks.
Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaway
Even tools designed to make your life easier can become tools for cybercriminals. Malicious extensions often hide behind trusted names and convincing features, making them difficult to spot. You can significantly reduce your risk by reviewing your browser extensions regularly, removing anything suspicious and using protective tools like password managers and strong antivirus software.
Have you checked your browser extensions recently? Let us know your thoughts by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Anthropic refuses Pentagon’s new terms, standing firm on lethal autonomous weapons and mass surveillance
Less than 24 hours before the deadline in an ultimatum issued by the Pentagon, Anthropic has refused the Department of Defense’s demands for unrestricted access to its AI.
It’s the culmination of a dramatic exchange of public statements, social media posts, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, coming down to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s desire to renegotiate all AI labs’ current contracts with the military. But Anthropic, so far, has refused to back down from its two current red lines: no mass surveillance of Americans, and no lethal autonomous weapons (or weapons with license to kill targets with no human oversight whatsoever). OpenAI and xAI had reportedly already agreed to the new terms, while Anthropic’s refusal had led to CEO Dario Amodei being summoned to the White House this week for a meeting with Hegseth himself, in which the Secretary reportedly issued an ultimatum to the CEO to back down by the end of business day on Friday or else.
In a statement late Thursday, Amodei wrote, “I believe deeply in the existential importance of using AI to defend the United States and other democracies, and to defeat our autocratic adversaries. Anthropic has therefore worked proactively to deploy our models to the Department of War and the intelligence community.”
He added that the company has “never raised objections to particular military operations nor attempted to limit use of our technology in an ad hoc manner” but that in a “narrow set of cases, we believe AI can undermine, rather than defend, democratic values” — going on to specifically mention mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. (Amodei mentioned that “partial autonomous weapons … are vital to the defense of democracy” and that fully autonomous weapons may eventually “prove critical for our national defense,” but that “today, frontier AI systems are simply not reliable enough to power fully autonomous weapons.” He did not rule out Anthropic acquiescing to the military’s use of fully autonomous weapons in the future but mentioned that they were not ready now.)
The Pentagon had already reportedly asked major defense contractors to assess their dependence on Anthropic’s Claude, which could be seen as the first step to designating the company a “supply chain risk” – a public threat that the Pentagon had made recently (and a classification usually reserved for threats to national security). The Pentagon was also reportedly considering invoking the Defense Production Act to make Anthropic comply.
Amodei wrote in his statement that the Pentagon’s “threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request.” He also wrote that “should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required.”
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