Web Browsers

Luca Todesco releases browser-based exploit for Pangu 9.3.3 jailbreak without certificate

Joaquim Barbosa ∙ December 8, 2016

Noted iOS security researcher and hacker Luca Todesco has just released a WebKit-based loader for the Pangu 9.3.3 jailbreak. This impressive browser exploit is reminiscent of the original JailbreakMe exploits on iOS 1 and iOS 4, after which it is named.

All that is required for the technique to work is to follow a URL in mobile Safari, press a button, lock your device and wait for the respring.

Whilst this development is testament to Todesco's hacking skills and has alleviated one major problem with the current 9.3.3 jailbreak: its reliance on developer certificates for the loader app, there is bound to be some confusion over what this tool actually does, and what it means for the jailbreak community. This post aims to bring some clarity to the topic.

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You can now start Chrome in Voice Search or Incognito mode from Spotlight Search

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 5, 2016

Google added Spotlight Search integration to Chrome for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch back in January 2016, allowing you to search for your Google bookmarks using iOS's Spotlight feature. Today, the Internet giant issued a small update to Chrome for iOS, bumping version number to 55.0.2883.79 and adding a pair of enhancements.

The first lets you start Chrome in Voice Search mode or open a new Incognito tab right from Spotligh.

As for the other change, Google has now removed the folder named All Bookmarks from your bookmarks view in Chrome “by popular request”.

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Adobe pushes another critical security update for Flash Player

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 27, 2016

It's been a little more than two weeks since Photoshop maker Adobe released a security update for its Flash Player for macOS which fixed a bunch of critical vulnerabilities and now another critical security update for Flash Player got released this morning. According to Adobe, the vulnerabilities in the current version of Flash Player could allow an attacker to take control of Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS machines.

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Latest Chrome for iOS update comes with a hidden game

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2016

Google yesterday pushed a small update to its Chrome browser in the App Store, bumping the app's version number to 54.0.2840.66. In addition to the usual stability improvements and bug fixes, the latest version of Google's mobile browser for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch packs in a charming side-scrolling mini game that you can play when without an Internet connection.

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Adobe pushes Flash Player security update fixing critical vulnerabilities

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 12, 2016

Adobe today released a new security-focused update for its Flash Player software in an effort to patch a series of vulnerabilities that could give attackers control of your computer. Although Safari on macOS Sierra disables web plugins like Flash by default, Mac owners who have a standalone Flash Player installed on their system are at risk, even if they're using Flash Player that's built into Google's Chrome browser.

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Google Chrome 55 won’t take up as much memory on websites that use JavaScript

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 10, 2016

An upcoming update to Google's Chrome browser won't take up as much memory on desktop or mobile websites that use JavaScript as before, CNET reported. Chrome 55 for desktop and mobile, scheduled to release on December 6, packs in an improved JavaScript engine dubbed V8 that was designed to “significantly reduced the memory footprint” of websites like Imgur, Reddit, Twitter and The New York Times.

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Chrome for iOS now supports Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 27, 2016

Google today issued a small but important refresh to the Chrome browser for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on the App Store. The updated software bumps up version number to 52.0.2743.84 and brings official support for Accelerated Mobile Pages that, similar to Instant Articles on Facebook, load in a fraction of the time of their non-accelerated mobile versions. Any news stories and articles from partner publishers that have a lightning bolt and “AMP” next to them in search results will load instantly when tapped on.

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iOS 10’s Safari improves animated GIF experience, prevents spammy videos from autoplaying

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 25, 2016

Among other enhancements, Safari on iOS 10 boosts the animated GIF experience for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users while preventing spammy autoplay videos from interrupting your browsing, according to the WebKit blog. On iOS 9, an animated GIF won't start playing until it's tapped.

With the new Safari, silent videos autoplay on webpages when they're visible because iOS 10 respects their “autoplay” attribute when source video tracks have no audio or have been muted.

But if a video gains an audio track without user interaction, like those spammy autoplay video ads on websites, playback automatically pauses.

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Apple Pay support code makes its first appearance in Safari Technology Preview 8

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 6, 2016

Safari Technology Preview, an experimental version of the Safari browser meant for testing upcoming new capabilities and web technologies, is a good place to look for clues regarding new features in development. Today, Apple released an eighth update to Safari Technology Preview, which debuted in March 2016, and the browser appears to include pieces of code to support the upcoming Apple Pay integration with websites.

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Facebook posts Save and Share extensions for Chrome, revamps Like button on mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Having launched at the annual F8 conference for developers, Facebook's Save button is now available for public consumption in the form of a new Save to Facebook extension for the Google Chrome browser. As a bonus, an official new Share to Facebook extension with more capabilities is now also available for free in the Chrome Web Store.

Taking dead aim at Pocket, the new Save to Facebook extension makes it simple for Chrome users to tuck articles away on Facebook to read later on. According to the social networking firm, more than 300 million people use the Save feature every month.

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Tip: this secret Safari shortcut quickly loads your last search results

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2016

SnapBack, a long-standing and very easily overlooked Safari for Mac feature, can save you a ton of clicks if you search a lot, and most of us do. With SnapBack, you can go right back to the last full search results page, even after traveling multiple pages in from your search results.

Part of the reason most users aren't familiar with SnapBack has to do with Apple's decision to remove the little orange SnapBack icon from Safari's address bar and bury the feature  in the menus.

Here's that secret SnapBack shortcut that everyone should start using right now.

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