### THE APPLE OF INNOVATION: A DIVE INTO APPLE'S LATEST VENTURES AND CYBERSECURITY LANDSCAPES

Apple’s announcement comes at a crucial time – not just because smartphones are so ubiquitous and are intrinsic to so many parts of our life, but because we’re seeing widespread data breaches and a worrying rise in the prevalence of cyberattacks. Apple is preparing to change the shape of the security landscape.

#### APPLE'S BOLD MOVE: INTRODUCING A STAND-ALONE PASSWORD MANAGER

It’s a company renowned for breaking barriers and innovating furiously, so it’s no surprise that Apple has been making waves at its Worldwide Developer Conference this year by apparently unveiling a third-party password manager. Apple already offers people ways to securely produce and enter passwords using Apple products through its iCloud and Mac Keychain tools, but its new, standalone password manager app is set to take functionality a step further with support not just for storing Wi-Fi network passwords, but also for the grouping of username and password pairs into categories. To make it all work, the app, codenamed ‘Passwords’, is also set to be available for Windows (at least, we assume, Mac – don’t expect Apple to announce that it’s writing apps for Windows any time soon). This should be a free app, available as part of the wider suite of new software and services that Apple can announce simultaneously this year. It’s interesting that Apple is including support for Windows, and we also wonder how it intends the app to work on Android.

#### THE TECH WORLD'S SECURITY HURDLES: A RECAP OF RECENT MISHAPS

We’ve heard about data security problems in the digital world for years, but with Snowflake’s cloud storage potentially leaking data for millions of people (and Microsoft’s Recall tool apparently succumbing to ‘two trivial attack vectors’), it’s increasingly clear how desperately we need more security. Social media is no exception to the uptick in security problems in recent months. TikTok recently had a security scare after high-profile users discovered they’d been filmed without their knowledge. Digital forensics experts are now learning about increasingly creative cyberfraud, such as the reported IT-freelancing scam allegedly used by North Korean agents to move around large sums of money.

#### POLICING THE FUTURE: DRONES AS FIRST RESPONDERS

Enter Chula Vista, California. In 2018, the coastal city implemented the ‘drone as first responder’ programme. It became the first ‘emergency services’ pilot between drones and public safety in the US. Since its implementation, Chula Vista drones complete more than 20,000 flights responding to 100 different types of 911 calls. A futuristic approach to policing, it represents the transformative powers of drones, not only as a tool for the public-safety industry but also as a tool that will support public-safety services.

#### THE SHADOW WORLD OF CYBERCRIMINALS AND LAUNDERING SCHEMES

The Internet’s other front is a state-of-the-art cyber criminal operation, as evidenced by The Epoch Times’ executive’s indictment for a vast global money-laundering operation involving cryptocurrency and bogus prepaid debit cards. It is pretty clear that cybercriminals will stop at nothing to fund their nefarious activities.

#### THE SILENCE BEHIND THE TECH GIANTS

Silent movers like Google’s ex-CEO, Eric Schmidt, who is said to be a key investor in a drone company (albeit a covert one, given that the company is not named in news media accounts, and is testing drones in areas such as Ukraine and hiring staff with connections to such companies as SpaceX, Apple and, of course, Google). The tech world is pioneering drone warfare.

#### CYBER THREATS ACROSS THE POND: LONDON'S HEALTHCARE UNDER SIEGE

How exposed critical infrastructure was to cybersecurity vulnerabilities was demonstrated when ransomware hit the London health service recently, apparently the work of the Russian cybercriminal Qilin group. Cybersecurity is an international issue, so we should all take it seriously.

### UNDERSTANDING APPLE'S ROLE IN A DIGITAL FUTURE

With Apple’s introduction of its password manager, we can see a glimmer on the digital horizon, where we prioritise user privacy before hackers do harm, and where a preventative approach to security innovation will define the next generation’s digital landscape.

In a world of growing dependence on digital connectivity, Apple’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its users’ info, while improving the usefulness of their devices, is a testament to its dedication to keeping the world’s information secure and private. With the debut of its password manager, Apple not only improves the way their users secure their digital lives, but establishes a new benchmark for other tech companies to follow.

For as we see the announcement of Apple’s latest product and we come to terms with how to work, live and play in the ever-changing environment of the burgeoning cybersecurity world, personal and system security is of paramount importance, which can only be met by innovative, user-friendly security. Apple is leading that revolution to make the world a safer, more secure place.