Month: August 2024
How to use a VPN on your iPhone
There’s a good chance your iPhone (or other smartphone) is your primary access point to most of your online activities. Everything from checking email to streaming your favorite shows to shopping online happens on our mobile devices, but that flexibility can come at the expense of privacy and overall security. (Yes, your ISP and mobile carrier can see all the sites you’re visiting by default.) Using a VPN on your iPhone can give some of the privacy back, while also letting you do things like stream foreign Netflix shows more easily. Here’s everything you need to know about using a VPN on your iPhone.
Choosing the right VPN
What VPN you use — or don’t use — makes all the difference. For instance, while Apple offers a VPN-like service in the form of iCloud Private Relay, it’s not really a full-service virtual private network. And with a small handful of notable exceptions, it’s imperative not to avoid most free VPNs, as they’re notorious for collecting your personal data and selling it to advertising networks — the very antithesis of what VPNs stand for. So while you’ll have to shell out some money for a good service, many of the top providers offer a free trial period to start.
I suggest you check out our article on the best VPNs, where we recommend a few options and explain what makes each service attractive. Each one supports iOS, and you can find them easily on the App Store. Do your own research and choose one you feel fits your needs and budget.
John P. Falcone/Engadget
Installing a VPN
Once you’ve decided which VPN to install, head to the App Store on your iPhone and search for it. Go through the download and installation process as you would with any other app.
If you haven’t already purchased a VPN subscription, you can once you install the app. Unlike purchasing on the VPN’s website, buying an in-app subscription is extremely easy and only requires verifying the purchase with your Face ID or logging into your Apple ID.
Again, many of the best VPNs also provide limited free bandwidth, so you can test its servers and functionality before investing in a subscription. Typically, they’ll give anywhere from 1GB to 10GB of monthly data, which isn’t a lot at all.
Using a VPN on your iPhone
Now that you have the VPN installed on your iPhone and purchased the subscription, you’re ready to start using it. Although each app has a different layout, the basic functionality of every iPhone VPN is the same.
There’ll be a list of all the available servers where you can choose the country (or city) you want to connect to. Then, all you need to do is press the big “Connect” button. It’s pretty simple to use an iPhone VPN.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can tweak a few other settings, such as enabling a kill switch, choosing which protocol to use and turning on auto-connect.
While installing the app of your chosen VPN provider should integrate it into your iPhone’s networking options, there’s an alternate configuration route — one that you may need to use if you’re installing a corporate or school VPN. Enter the Settings app on your iPhone, go to VPN & Device Management section under General, and click “Add VPN Configuration.” You’ll need details like the server address and remote ID, as well as your username and password, of course.
Making sure your iPhone VPN works
This screenshot was not taken from London.whatismyipaddress.com
Once you turn the VPN on, you should see a square VPN sign where all the network icons are in the top right of your iPhone screen. This means that you’re connected to your VPN. However, there are a few things you can do to double-check.
To start, you could check your IP address at a site like whatismyipaddress.com — first with the VPN off, then with it on. If the number (and the location on the map) doesn’t change, that means your VPN is not properly engaged.
Another method is to set your VPN for another country and open your streaming platform of choice. If you notice that the content library differs from what you usually see, your VPN is correctly place-shifting your location. For instance, you’ll no longer find Friends on US Netflix, but (as of the time of this writing) it’s available for streaming when you set your location to the UK.
TL;DR
Installing a VPN on your iPhone is extremely simple. If you already have a VPN subscription, installing it on your phone gives you an additional level of privacy and geographic flexibility. For those new to VPNs, read our best VPNs article, purchase a subscription, install it and you’re ready to start using a VPN on your iPhone.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-use-a-vpn-on-your-iphone-124543616.html?src=rss
There’s a good chance your iPhone (or other smartphone) is your primary access point to most of your online activities. Everything from checking email to streaming your favorite shows to shopping online happens on our mobile devices, but that flexibility can come at the expense of privacy and overall security. (Yes, your ISP and mobile carrier can see all the sites you’re visiting by default.) Using a VPN on your iPhone can give some of the privacy back, while also letting you do things like stream foreign Netflix shows more easily. Here’s everything you need to know about using a VPN on your iPhone.
Choosing the right VPN
What VPN you use — or don’t use — makes all the difference. For instance, while Apple offers a VPN-like service in the form of iCloud Private Relay, it’s not really a full-service virtual private network. And with a small handful of notable exceptions, it’s imperative not to avoid most free VPNs, as they’re notorious for collecting your personal data and selling it to advertising networks — the very antithesis of what VPNs stand for. So while you’ll have to shell out some money for a good service, many of the top providers offer a free trial period to start.
I suggest you check out our article on the best VPNs, where we recommend a few options and explain what makes each service attractive. Each one supports iOS, and you can find them easily on the App Store. Do your own research and choose one you feel fits your needs and budget.
Installing a VPN
Once you’ve decided which VPN to install, head to the App Store on your iPhone and search for it. Go through the download and installation process as you would with any other app.
If you haven’t already purchased a VPN subscription, you can once you install the app. Unlike purchasing on the VPN’s website, buying an in-app subscription is extremely easy and only requires verifying the purchase with your Face ID or logging into your Apple ID.
Again, many of the best VPNs also provide limited free bandwidth, so you can test its servers and functionality before investing in a subscription. Typically, they’ll give anywhere from 1GB to 10GB of monthly data, which isn’t a lot at all.
Using a VPN on your iPhone
Now that you have the VPN installed on your iPhone and purchased the subscription, you’re ready to start using it. Although each app has a different layout, the basic functionality of every iPhone VPN is the same.
There’ll be a list of all the available servers where you can choose the country (or city) you want to connect to. Then, all you need to do is press the big “Connect” button. It’s pretty simple to use an iPhone VPN.
If you’re tech-savvy, you can tweak a few other settings, such as enabling a kill switch, choosing which protocol to use and turning on auto-connect.
While installing the app of your chosen VPN provider should integrate it into your iPhone’s networking options, there’s an alternate configuration route — one that you may need to use if you’re installing a corporate or school VPN. Enter the Settings app on your iPhone, go to VPN & Device Management section under General, and click “Add VPN Configuration.” You’ll need details like the server address and remote ID, as well as your username and password, of course.
Making sure your iPhone VPN works
This screenshot was not taken from London.
Once you turn the VPN on, you should see a square VPN sign where all the network icons are in the top right of your iPhone screen. This means that you’re connected to your VPN. However, there are a few things you can do to double-check.
To start, you could check your IP address at a site like whatismyipaddress.com — first with the VPN off, then with it on. If the number (and the location on the map) doesn’t change, that means your VPN is not properly engaged.
Another method is to set your VPN for another country and open your streaming platform of choice. If you notice that the content library differs from what you usually see, your VPN is correctly place-shifting your location. For instance, you’ll no longer find Friends on US Netflix, but (as of the time of this writing) it’s available for streaming when you set your location to the UK.
TL;DR
Installing a VPN on your iPhone is extremely simple. If you already have a VPN subscription, installing it on your phone gives you an additional level of privacy and geographic flexibility. For those new to VPNs, read our best VPNs article, purchase a subscription, install it and you’re ready to start using a VPN on your iPhone.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-use-a-vpn-on-your-iphone-124543616.html?src=rss
Drug dealers to Putin critics: Behind Pavel Durov’s rare Telegram audience
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Chinese government hackers infiltrate at least two top US ISPs
Chinese state-sponsored hackers have found a zero-day, and used it to breach multiple US ISPs.
A Chinese state-sponsored hacking group has been observed using a zero-day exploit to infiltrate internet service providers (ISPs), managed service providers (ISPs) and IT sectors since at least June 12, 2024.
Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs believes the group, tracked as Volt Typhoon and Bronze Silhouette, was observed using the vulnerability, labelled as CVE-2024-39717, to breach organizations in the wild.
The vulnerability utilizes a complex process to inject malicious code into Versa Director servers, allowing the attacker to steal credentials in plaintext, “potentially enabling downstream compromises of client infrastructure through legitimate credential use,” Black Lots Labs said.
Breaching US ISPs
Versa Director servers are used by ISPs and MSPs to manage network configurations on software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) software. The attackers used a custom JAR web shell – labeled “VersaMem” by Black Lotus Labs – that employs Java instrumentation and Javassist to inject code into the Tomcat web server process memory space on the victims Versa Director servers.
The web shell, named “VersaTest.png” and uploaded to VirusTotal on June 7, 2024, does not have any antivirus detections at time of writing, and can still be used to exploit unpatched Versa Director servers. So far, the vulnerability has been used to attack four victims within the US, and one non-US victim.
(Image credit: Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs)
Douglas McKee, executive director, threat research at SonicWall, commented on the attack, stating, “The recent exploitation of a zero-day vulnerability in the Versa Director software by the Chinese state-backed hacking group Volt Typhoon highlights the critical importance of vulnerability research and product security testing. This attack, which targeted U.S. ISPs and MSPs, underscores how undiscovered and therefore unpatched vulnerabilities can be leveraged by sophisticated threat actors to infiltrate and compromise critical infrastructure. By performing third-party vulnerability research and internal product security testing, organizations can identify and mitigate these weaknesses before they are exploited.”
Black Lotus Labs recommends those concerned about compromise of Versa Director servers within their network to upgrade to version 22.1.4 or later and keep an eye out for the following indicators of compromise (IOCs):
Searching for interactions with port 4566 on Versa Director servers from non-Versa node IPs (e.g. SOHO devices).Searching the Versa webroot directory (recursively) for files ending with a “.png” extension that are not valid PNG files.Checking for newly created user accounts and other abnormal files.Auditing user accounts, reviewing system/application/user logs, rotating credentials, analyzing downstream customer accounts and triaging lateral movement attempts if any indications of compromise are identified, or the management ports 4566 or 4570 were exposed for any period of time.
Further recommendations can be found on the Black Lotus Labs blog.
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Samsung’s 27-inch 5K ViewFinity S9 monitor is 48 percent off at Amazon for Labor Day
Samsung’s first 5K monitor is now on sale at Amazon for almost half off its original price. The company announced the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor at CES 2023 and released it first in South Korea before bringing it to the United States with a list price of $1,599 in July last year. Now, you can get the 27-inch monitor for only $830, 48 percent less than its list price and the lowest we’ve seen the device go for on the e-commerce website. To note, ViewFinity S9 is comparable to the 27-inch Apple Studio Display, which is also a 5K monitor that will set you back at least $1,599.
The ViewFinity S9 has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, 218 pixels per inch, 99 percent DCI-P3 that delivers color saturation and a 60Hz refresh rate. It was designed with creatives in mind and has a matte display to reduce light reflections. The monitor also comes with an Intelligent Eye Care mode that automatically optimizes brightness, reduces blue light and eliminates screen flickering in order to reduce eye strain.
You can connect it to both Windows and Mac devices, thanks to its DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, so you can use it as a monitor for various PCs. If you stream or attend video calls frequently, you can use its built-in SlimFit 4K camera that’s also compatible with both Macs and Windows computers.
The monitor is Apple AirPlay-compatible and will be able to mirror or extend your screen, which you help you boost your productivity. If you’re looking at lengthy documents and a vertical screen would be ideal, you can pivot the monitor 90 degrees to keep reading without scrolling as much. In addition, you can just as easily use it for entertainment, because it comes embedded with several smart TV apps, as well as Samsung’s Gaming Hub.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-27-inch-5k-viewfinity-s9-monitor-is-48-percent-off-at-amazon-for-labor-day-123013009.html?src=rss
Samsung’s first 5K monitor is now on sale at Amazon for almost half off its original price. The company announced the ViewFinity S9 5K monitor at CES 2023 and released it first in South Korea before bringing it to the United States with a list price of $1,599 in July last year. Now, you can get the 27-inch monitor for only $830, 48 percent less than its list price and the lowest we’ve seen the device go for on the e-commerce website. To note, ViewFinity S9 is comparable to the 27-inch Apple Studio Display, which is also a 5K monitor that will set you back at least $1,599.
The ViewFinity S9 has a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution, 218 pixels per inch, 99 percent DCI-P3 that delivers color saturation and a 60Hz refresh rate. It was designed with creatives in mind and has a matte display to reduce light reflections. The monitor also comes with an Intelligent Eye Care mode that automatically optimizes brightness, reduces blue light and eliminates screen flickering in order to reduce eye strain.
You can connect it to both Windows and Mac devices, thanks to its DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, so you can use it as a monitor for various PCs. If you stream or attend video calls frequently, you can use its built-in SlimFit 4K camera that’s also compatible with both Macs and Windows computers.
The monitor is Apple AirPlay-compatible and will be able to mirror or extend your screen, which you help you boost your productivity. If you’re looking at lengthy documents and a vertical screen would be ideal, you can pivot the monitor 90 degrees to keep reading without scrolling as much. In addition, you can just as easily use it for entertainment, because it comes embedded with several smart TV apps, as well as Samsung’s Gaming Hub.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/samsungs-27-inch-5k-viewfinity-s9-monitor-is-48-percent-off-at-amazon-for-labor-day-123013009.html?src=rss