A hot potato: One of the main selling points of Apple’s recently unveiled Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 is a new Audio Intelligence feature that records and analyzes ambient speech, music, and other sounds. Seemingly anticipating the concerns that come with turning a smartwatch into a listening device, the company also outlined numerous privacy protections, but it remains to be seen how people will use Siri’s new capabilities.

Pre-orders are now open for the Apple Watch Series 12 (starting at $399) and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 ($799), with availability starting on September 18. The new wearables introduce improved health-tracking features and can use Siri’s upcoming AI enhancements to analyze and transcribe what they hear.

Apple’s new Audio Intelligence includes four functions for the Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, two of which deal directly with the user’s conversations.

When the wearer double-presses the Digital Crown, Live Rewind displays a text snippet of what was said over the past 15 seconds, which users can save to the Siri app. Meanwhile, Siri Recap listens to conversations ambiently throughout the day to generate a summary later. Both features are set to enter beta in late 2026.

The other two features seem relatively benign. Sound Recognition alerts hard-of-hearing wearers to important noises such as sirens, alarms, doorbells, and crying children. Additionally, Music Recognition automatically uses Shazam to display a song’s title and artist in the Smart Stack, without requiring users to tap the widget.

In a support article and a privacy document, Apple stresses that it processes audio in a secure part of the watch and iPhone that’s inaccessible to the user and the company, so users can only retrieve text snippets or summaries, never the underlying audio. Live Rewind constantly overwrites old audio as new data streams in, and Siri Recap deletes audio after transcription.

Furthermore, Siri Recap condenses and encrypts transcripts to retain only a conversation’s core meaning before sending them to Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, where they remain inaccessible to the company, to create a summary.

Siri Recap automatically deletes summaries after seven days unless users save them. It also attempts to omit financial information, harmful content, government-issued IDs, and certain other identifying data.

Even if audio data and transcripts remain secure, predicting how people will use the new listening features will be difficult. Furthermore, deleting master audio data makes it harder to verify an AI summary’s accuracy.

The Siri AI beta will roll out in English when watchOS 27 launches on September 14, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October.

Compared with prior models, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will also monitor heart rate and heart rate variability more accurately, and the Ultra 4 features improved battery life.

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The “Surprise and Shine” September launch event was one of Apple’s crispest, most elaborate, and most loaded launch events in a while. Instead of leaving the minute details in the spec sheet or fine print, Apple actually included them in its keynote presentation, not just for its big reveal but for all the devices it unveiled on September 9, 2026. 

While the ‘Surprise’ bit was covered by the new iPhone Duo, ‘Shine’ probably refers to the new colors in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Beyond these, Apple also announced two new Apple Watches and a refresh for the regular AirPods (not the Pro ones). Given that there’s a lot of ground to cover, here’s everything Apple announced at its September 2026 event. 

Apple September event at a glance

iPhone Duo; Apple’s first foldable with split-screen multitasking 

Apple finally has a foldable iPhone in its portfolio, and it’s called the iPhone Duo. With a form factor similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the phone features titanium frames sandwiched between a Ceramic Shield back, a Ceramic Shield 2 front, and an IP68 rating. Speaking of the frame, the Duo is Apple’s thinnest iPhone when measured unfolded (5.2 mm vs. 5.6 mm on the iPhone Air).

When closed, it’s a 5.4-inch slab roughly the size of a passport. Unfold it, and it reveals a 7.6-inch, iPad-like screen better suited to landscape content than tall-body foldables like the Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. Both the screens are compatible with Apple’s USB-C Apple Pencil.

Both panels use Super Retina XDR tech (Apple’s way of saying sharp OLED panels) with ProMotion (120Hz refresh rate with LTPO), always-on display support, and a nano-texture coating to cut down on glare (on the inner screen).

Under the Duo’s shiny hood sits the A20 Pro (2nm) chip and a custom vapor chamber, and together they deliver up to 40% better sustained performance than the A19 Pro (3nm). At the same time, the 2nm processing node makes the new chip much more efficient.

Despite having more computational power than the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the iPhone Duo matches its rated wireless video playback duration at 26 hours. And yes, the foldable also supports MagSafe charging. Out of the box, Apple’s foldable runs iOS 27 with side-mounted navigation and true split-screen multitasking.

Camera-wise, Duo runs a 48MP Fusion Main sensor with a built-in 2x optical-quality crop, along with the same 48MP Ultra Wide found on the 18 Pro. It also has an under-display selfie camera on the inner screen. Thanks to the foldable screen, the Duo comes with genuinely new camera tricks, including a live outer-screen preview, a kid-focused animation cue, and a split-screen FaceTime mode.

Available in an eSIM-only configuration, the iPhone Duo (256GB) starts at $1,999 in the US. Unlike the iPhone 18 Pro models, pre-orders open on October 16, and general sales begin October 23. You can choose from two options: Night Sky and Star White.

iPhone 18 Pro lineup: Faster chip, bigger batteries, and more

The iPhone 18 Pro retains the same look and feel as the iPhone 17 Pro: a gigantic camera plateau at the back with a triple-camera setup, glass-and-aluminum design (with a color-matched glass back panel), and symmetrical bezels on the front. What’s new is a Burgundy finish, alongside returning favorites like Glacier, Silver, and Black.

On the display side, the Dynamic Island is physically smaller, but instead of showing two Live Activities, it can now show three, giving you more information at once. Otherwise, resolution, peak brightness, and maximum refresh rate remain the same.

Like the iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro’s performance gains come from the A20 Pro (2nm) chip and a redesigned vapor chamber with triple the surface area of last year’s model. So, whether you throw an hour-long gaming or video-editing session at it, the phone should retain peak performance better than the iPhone 17 Pro.

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Software-wise, both phones ship with iOS 27, which brings refined Apple Intelligence features, the new Siri AI experience (still in beta), a refined Liquid Glass visual language, and iPhone Handoff, which lets you use one number on two paired iPhones.

The bigger story here is the variable aperture on the primary camera, a first for any iPhone. Six laser-cut blades physically adjust the opening on the 48MP Fusion Main camera, swinging from f/1.48 for low light to f/4 for sharper focus. A companion feature called Pro controls lets you control aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and a live histogram directly in the Camera app.

Apple has also introduced Reference Image, a security system designed to curb the spread of AI-manipulated photos. The Main camera’s sensor can now sign the metadata it captures, helping verify whether a picture is real or AI-generated. Battery life also improves dramatically on the new iPhones.

The iPhone 18 Pro can last up to 34 hours of video playback (up from 31 hours), while the iPhone 18 Pro Max goes up to 43 hours (up from 37 hours). Apple didn’t miss the opportunity to call this its largest single-generation battery jump. Charging keeps pace, with the 18 Pro hitting 50% in about 15 minutes on a cable (with a 60W charger) or 30 minutes wirelessly (with a 35W adapter).

Pricing lands at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro (256GB) and $1,299 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max (256GB); both are up $100 from last year’s models. Pre-orders begin September 12, while general sales begin September 18.

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Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: A health-first redesign

Both new watch lineups share a rebuilt Health Sensing System. Paired with the new S11 chip, it delivers the most accurate heart-rate tracking of any wearable (according to Apple). The larger optical sensors now sample heart rate every five seconds, while Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is measured up to 24 times more frequently than before. 

The metric is split into two distinct readings, one tuned for day-to-day stress and recovery, and another for longer-term cardiovascular insight. Apple Watches then use that data to fuel a new feature called Readiness (a daily score from 0 to 10), something Whoop and Oura have been doing for years. 

The Health app on iPhone is getting a couple of upgrades, too. It arrives later this year with a Longevity tab that includes a “Health Age” estimate and the option to book blood panels (roughly 50 biomarkers for $119) via nearly 2,000 Quest Diagnostics locations.

The S11 chip also introduces something unique but genuinely concerning: Audio Intelligence. The suite includes features like Live Rewind (which can replay the last 15 seconds of a conversation), automatic Siri-generated conversation summaries, and sound alerts for deaf and hard-of-hearing users. 

That said, the Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 and offers up to 24 hours of everyday battery life. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 and pushes battery life to a genuinely useful 50 hours with normal use or 45 hours of continuous GPS tracking in its extended workout mode. You can pre-order either smartwatch right now. 

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AirPods 5: Improved noise cancellation at an affordable price

Apple’s latest open-ear AirPods 5 offer 50% more noise cancellation than AirPods 4, thanks to a new multiport acoustic architecture and next-gen Adaptive EQ. Transparency mode also sounds more natural, with a new Adaptive Audio mode that toggles between ANC and Transparency depending on what’s happening around you. If this sounds familiar, that’s because the AirPods Pro 3 already have it. 

Then there’s Personalized Spatial Audio, which adapts to different ear shapes. Honestly, though, the feature most people will use daily is the hands-free Siri AI integration. Live Translation, initially reserved for AirPods Pro, is now baked into the entire lineup. Battery life goes up to 5 hours of ANC playback per charge, an hour longer than AirPods 4 managed with ANC on, and 22 hours total with the charging case. 

On the hardware side, you can choose from two flavors. The standard AirPods 5 run $129, while there’s a $149 version that comes with a wireless charging case. The more expensive version also adds a force-sensor volume swipe right on the stem. Both versions are up for pre-order now, landing on shelves September 18. 

Check out our Apple September 2026 page for the entire coverage.

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Apple has officially unveiled AirPods 5, and the biggest surprise is not another AI feature or a marginal change to the charging case. Active Noise Cancellation is now standard on Apple’s least-expensive AirPods, with the new open-ear wireless earbuds starting at $129.

That is a significant change from AirPods 4, where consumers had to spend $179 to get ANC. Apple is also offering AirPods 5 with a Wireless Charging Case for $149, making the more expensive version $30 cheaper than the previous AirPods 4 with ANC while adding longer battery life and on-stem volume control.

Apple lowering the barrier to entry rather than moving it higher? Somewhere, an accountant in Cupertino needs to have their temperature checked.

ANC Is Now Standard on AirPods 5

The biggest change is straightforward: both AirPods 5 models include Active Noise Cancellation.

Apple claims the new earbuds can remove up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, thanks to an all-new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio algorithms. Apple is calling it the industry’s best ANC in an open-ear wireless headphone, although that claim is based on its own July 2026 testing against the bestselling open-ear wireless headphones commercially available at the time.

Open-ear ANC has always been a tricky proposition because the earbuds do not create the passive acoustic seal provided by silicone or foam eartips. Apple managed to make it surprisingly effective on AirPods 4 with ANC, and a claimed 50 percent improvement would be meaningful if real-world performance gets anywhere close.

AirPods 5 also include an improved Transparency mode designed to reproduce surrounding voices and environmental sounds more naturally. Adaptive Audio dynamically blends ANC and Transparency based on ambient conditions, while Conversation Awareness automatically lowers media volume when the wearer starts speaking.

That brings Apple’s complete noise-control suite into its $129 AirPods for the first time.

New Acoustic Architecture Targets Better Sound

ANC might dominate the headline, but Apple has also re-engineered the acoustic system.

AirPods 5 use an all-new multiport acoustic architecture inspired by AirPods Pro 3, combined with Apple’s next-generation Adaptive EQ. According to Apple, the system is designed to provide richer and more detailed sound across a wider range of ear geometries.

That last part matters more with an open-ear design than it might sound. Without an eartip creating a consistent seal, the relationship between the earbud, the listener’s ear, and the acoustic output can have a significant impact on bass response and tonal balance.

Adaptive EQ attempts to compensate for those differences electronically, while the redesigned acoustic architecture handles airflow and sound delivery mechanically. Apple also says the changes make Personalized Spatial Audio more immersive and dynamic.

We will reserve judgment on all of that until somebody actually puts them in their ears. Our review of the AirPods Pro 3 found its expanded feature set impressive but its sonic balance less convincing than AirPods Pro 2, which proved that more computational horsepower does not automatically produce better music reproduction.

AirPods 5 Get Siri AI and Live Translation

Apple is also turning AirPods into a more important hands-free interface for Apple Intelligence.

When paired with an Apple Intelligence-supported iPhone, AirPods 5 can access Apple’s new Siri AI, which begins rolling out in beta with iOS 27. The upgraded assistant can use personal context from messages, emails, photos, and other information while also accessing broader world knowledge and performing supported actions inside apps.

That means users could ask Siri to play a song recommended in a message or find directions to a restaurant based on a reservation confirmation buried inside an email. Siri Interactions also allow users to respond by nodding their head for yes or shaking it for no, which has the additional benefit of making everyone around you wonder why you are suddenly arguing silently with yourself.

Siri AI launches in beta in English on September 14, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish support scheduled for October. Apple notes that some functionality will vary by region and device, and Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS.

Live Translation is also supported on AirPods 5. After downloading the required languages in Apple’s Translate app, users can start a translation session by pressing both stems simultaneously, asking Siri, or using the Action button on an iPhone.

The feature uses ANC and computational audio to make translated speech easier to hear and requires a compatible Apple device running current software with Apple Intelligence enabled. Language and regional availability vary.

AirPods 5 With Wireless Charging Case Adds More Than Charging

The $149 version is where Apple’s two-model strategy becomes slightly more complicated.

AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case add wireless charging compatibility with Apple Watch chargers and Qi-compatible chargers while retaining USB-C. The $149 version also receives a redesigned battery that provides up to five hours of playback with ANC enabled, one hour longer than AirPods 4 with ANC. Total listening time with ANC reaches up to 22 hours when the charging case is included.

There is another useful difference: volume control.

The $149 AirPods 5 add a force sensor with volume swipe, allowing users to adjust playback volume by sliding a finger up or down the stem. This is the first time Apple has offered that control on its open-ear AirPods.

For only $20 more than the standard version, wireless charging, longer battery life, and direct volume adjustment make the $149 model look like the obvious choice unless saving twenty bucks is the primary objective.

AirPods 5 vs AirPods 4

Apple’s new pricing substantially changes the value proposition compared with the previous generation.

AirPods 4 launched at $129 without ANC, while AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation cost $179. That second model also included the more capable wireless charging case.

AirPods 5 put ANC into both versions while keeping the base price unchanged.

What Makes AirPods 5 Unique?

The combination of an open-ear design and serious Active Noise Cancellation remains the defining feature.

Most high-performance ANC earbuds rely on silicone or foam eartips to create a seal that provides substantial passive isolation before their microphones and DSP do anything. AirPods 5 attempt to deliver meaningful noise reduction without sealing the ear canal, which should appeal to listeners who dislike the pressure, isolation, or fit of traditional in-ear designs.

Apple’s other advantage remains ecosystem integration. Siri AI, Live Translation, Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, head gestures, and seamless integration with Apple devices combine into a feature set that is difficult for competitors to duplicate across an entire hardware and software ecosystem.

That doesn’t automatically make AirPods 5 the best-sounding wireless earbuds for $129 or $149. Sony, Technics, Bose, Samsung, Nothing, and other brands have turned this part of the market into a knife fight, and Apple’s continued reliance on its own ecosystem rather than broader high-resolution Bluetooth codec support will still matter to some listeners.

But bringing ANC to $129 changes the conversation rather dramatically.

AIrPods Compared

Compatibility & Availability

AirPods 5 can be preordered starting September 9 in the U.S. and more than 65 countries and regions. Both models arrive in stores on Friday, September 18.

Apple says full feature functionality requires AirPods 5 to be paired with an Apple device running the latest operating-system software. Personalized Spatial Audio requires a compatible iPhone with a TrueDepth camera to create the personalized listening profile.

Apple Intelligence launches with iOS 27 on September 14 on supported hardware and in supported languages. Live Translation also requires Apple Intelligence to be enabled and is not available in every country, region, or language.

The Bottom Line

AirPods 5 are a more meaningful upgrade than their familiar appearance might suggest. Putting Active Noise Cancellation into the $129 model removes one of the biggest compromises associated with Apple’s least-expensive AirPods, while the new acoustic architecture, Adaptive EQ, improved Transparency mode, Live Translation, and Siri AI substantially expand what Apple’s mainstream wireless earbuds can do.

The $149 AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case look even more compelling. For only $20 more, buyers get wireless charging, up to five hours of ANC playback, 22 hours with the case, and on-stem volume control while still spending $30 less than the previous AirPods 4 with ANC.

None of that tells us whether AirPods 5 actually sound better, and Apple’s claim of best-in-class open-ear ANC deserves independent testing before anyone starts engraving the trophy. But Apple has made its most affordable AirPods significantly more capable without raising the $129 starting price.

Bose And Sony have been put on notice.

For more information: apple.com/airpods-5/

The takeaway: The US Commerce Department is investing $300 million in three quantum-computing companies and taking minority ownership stakes in each as part of the deal. D-Wave Quantum, Rigetti Computing, and Quantinuum will each receive $100 million in CHIPS Act research and development funding. The investment is intended to expand quantum hardware research and strengthen US supply chains for advanced semiconductors and related technologies.

The awards are aimed at practical engineering work rather than quantum software. The companies are focused on building and manufacturing the components needed for larger, more reliable quantum systems, including processors, cryogenic equipment, semiconductor devices, lasers, and optical hardware.

Rigetti will use its funding to address the challenges of scaling superconducting quantum processors. The company said it plans to expand its cryogenic capacity and accelerate production at its specialized manufacturing facilities. It will also address technical issues that have made it difficult to build larger superconducting systems.

D-Wave said the funding will support microelectronics research and development, including advanced semiconductor prototypes for quantum technology. The British Columbia-based company said the work is intended to support scalable, high-performance quantum hardware.

Quantinuum’s project is centered on integrated photonics, which combines optical components and electronics in compact systems. The company said it will work with GlobalFoundries to fabricate next-generation ion traps and other electronic components. It also plans to work with Monarch Quantum on integrated lasers and optical components for its systems.

The Commerce Department will take a minority stake in all three companies as part of the grants. The structure gives the government a direct financial interest in companies developing domestic quantum and advanced hardware capabilities.

GlobalFoundries also finalized a separate $375 million agreement with the government to expand domestic quantum manufacturing. Under the five-year deal, the chipmaker will receive milestone-based research and development funding from the Commerce Department.

The company said the funding will help quantum hardware developers move from lab prototypes to commercial-scale manufacturing. It is intended to support the technologies needed to build scalable quantum processing units in the US.

GlobalFoundries has already received federal support for related work. In July, the government said it would take a 1% stake in GlobalFoundries and provide $300 million for silicon photonics development for data centers.

The latest grants show how federal quantum funding is shifting toward the hardware and manufacturing challenges facing the industry. Quantum companies still need to prove they can build systems at scale, rather than simply demonstrate advances in the lab.

At least four espionage groups, most with suspected links to China, are using a new exploit kit that chains two Chromium-based browser flaws and one Microsoft Windows bug to break into organizations’ networks in the US and Southeast Asia.

Mark Kelly, a threat researcher at email security shop Proofpoint, told The Register that the researchers don’t know exactly who was targeted, nor how, and so far the damage appears limited. “In terms of organizations targeted, we saw fewer than 20 organizations globally targeted across the activity highlighted,” he said. “However, the true number is almost certainly higher than this.”

Proofpoint’s threat hunters spotted the new kit, which they named BlueMoon, and said its first observed use started on August 28. This is when a Beijing-backed crew they track as TA412, also known as Violet Typhoon and APT31, used BlueMoon to “repeatedly” target non-governmental organizations (NGOs), mining companies, and physical commodity trading firms in the US.

TA412 is a cyberespionage group linked by US authorities to China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), and American prosecutors previously charged seven alleged members with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions and wire fraud, alleging they broke into computer networks, email accounts, and cloud storage belonging to numerous critical infrastructure organizations, companies, and individuals.

Just days after Proofpoint documented the late-August activity, “several other espionage-motivated clusters began using BlueMoon, the majority of which have a suspected China nexus,” Kelly and fellow researchers Greg Lesnewich, Konstantin Klinger, Saher Naumaan, Julia Paluch, David Galazin, and Stuart Del Caliz said on Wednesday, noting that there may be other, non-China-nexus attackers using the exploit kit as well.

“BlueMoon was developed and deployed rapidly, and shared across multiple threat actors within days,” Kelly told The Register. “This may reflect a reduced cost and barrier to entry for this class of capability, which has historically been rare and high value, as AI agents increasingly enable threat actor exploit development. That is particularly true for open-source codebases such as Chromium, where publicly accessible upstream patches create a ‘patch-gap’ window for rapid reverse engineering and exploit development ahead of downstream stable releases.”

A Google spokesperson declined to comment beyond what Proofpoint wrote. Microsoft patched the Windows bug (CVE-2026-85880) on Tuesday, and a spokesperson reiterated that customers who applied that patch are protected.

BlueMoon attack chain

The kit chains together three vulnerabilities. 

The first is a V8 type confusion (CVE-2026-85046) flaw that allows remote code execution and affects all Chromium-based browsers, including Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Google patched this bug in Chrome on September 3, and at the time warned that it “is aware that an exploit for CVE-2026-85046 exists in the wild.” Microsoft published a security advisory saying it fixed the flaw in Edge Stable version 152.0.4191.62 on September 2.

The second is a Chrome V8 sandbox escape. This one also affected all Chromium-based browsers. It does not have a CVE because Google doesn’t issue them for sandbox escapes.

Finally, the third bug is a privilege escalation vulnerability in Windows Advanced Local Procedure Call (CVE-2026-85880) that Microsoft patched on Tuesday, as noted above. Redmond also warned that this flaw had been exploited as a zero-day prior to the security update.

The Proofpoint researchers also note that both V8 vulnerabilities are what’s called “patch-gap” zero-days at the time of the observed activity. This means they were known and fixed in upstream Chromium source code – a change containing the fix for CVE-2026-85046 was committed on August 7. But they remained unpatched in the latest stable releases of Chrome and Chromium-based browsers available to the public for weeks. 

“It is likely that the exploit kit developer used these publicly available Chromium patches to weaponize the browser exploit chain,” the researchers note.

From phishing to browser surveillance

The attacks start with a phishing email that tricks victims into clicking on an actor-controlled URL. This triggers the two V8 bugs to allow remote code execution and escape the browser sandbox. The attack chain then exploits the Windows bug to download multiple payloads including browser-surveillance malware, credential-stealing backdoors, and others, depending on the group using the exploit kit.

TA412’s first campaign, which began on August 28, used a range of lures. Some of the emails purported to come from university students interested in internships at the targeted organizations, and some were more target-specific exchanges, intended to build trust with the individual before ultimately sending a malicious link via email. 

In these instances, the exploit chain “ultimately downloaded and ran a loader executable on the infected host, which then installed a malicious browser extension disguised as Google Gemini on the victim’s Chromium-based browser,” the team wrote. 

This browser extension, which Proofpoint tracks as GemStone, allowed the Beijing spies to issue commands through a command-and-control (C&C) channel, steal cookies and other sensitive data, take screenshots, and inject a keylogger into a browser tab. The malware also contains a keyword monitor, which injects an attacker-specified keyword list into the top frame of each page, scans the HTML body for these keywords, and triggers a screenshot if it finds any.

A few days later, beginning on September 2, a second China-aligned spy crew that Proofpoint tracks under the temporary group designator UNK_LateNight used BlueMoon to target multiple US aerospace companies. 

The phishing emails used request-for-quotation lures specific to defense industry organizations, and included links to attacker-controlled domains spoofing a variety of US aerospace companies. These websites also served the BlueMoon exploit kit and ultimately loaded a backdoor called ShadowPad, which has been shared among multiple China-aligned groups since 2019.

Around this same time, on September 2, another suspected espionage group that Proofpoint tracks as UNK_DoubleCheck targeted a Vietnamese manufacturing firm with messages sent from a compromised Southeast Asian government email address.

The fourth campaign began a day later, and involved suspected China-linked spy crew UNK_QuietRacket using BlueMoon to target government, consulting, and financial-sector organizations in Indonesia and Singapore. These phishing emails used lures related to Indonesian conferences, such as the Indo Startup Expo and Forum 2026 and the World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE 2026). 

Proofpoint warns that BlueMoon will likely be used by both cyberspies and financially motivated attackers.

“The broader dynamic revealed by this activity – rapid exploit development that leverages the open source patch-gap – is likely to recur beyond BlueMoon as this development model becomes accessible,” the team wrote. ®

• Calif researchers found a zero‑click WeChat VoIP flaw enabling account takeover via calls
• “WeWorm” spreads through ringing calls; victims need not answer to be compromised
• Tencent patched in Android 8.0.77 and iOS 8.0.76; no exploitation seen in the wild

Security researchers have found a flaw in WeChat which allows malicious actors to take over people’s accounts on both Android and iOS devices – but what makes this flaw stand out is the fact that it’s a zero-click bug – victims need not do a thing to be compromised.

WeChat is a “super-app”, allegedly used by roughly 1.4 billion people, and is especially popular in China. It started as a communications app, letting users send messages, and make voice and video calls, and has evolved to function as a social network, allowing users to share photos and videos, as well as a payment app through which users can transfer money, pay for things, order food, book taxis, and even access government and business services.

First look: Following years of fervent speculation, Apple finally unveiled its first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, at its ‘Surprise and Shine’ event in Cupertino, California. The company is betting big on its first foldable, with new CEO John Ternus calling it “the most transformational change to iPhone since the original.”

The iPhone Duo arrives with two “Super Retina XDR” ProMotion displays, including a large 7.6-inch folding panel on the inside and a smaller 5.4-inch screen on the outside. Both are protected by Ceramic Shield 2 and offer 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. They will both support the updated USB-C Apple Pencil with a future software update.

On the hardware side, the Duo is powered by the A20 Pro SoC, which comprises a 6-core CPU, a 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple claims that compared to the A19 Pro, the new CPU and GPU are up to 20% and 40% faster, respectively, while being more power efficient. The Neural Engine reportedly offers 2x the compute power as the A19 Pro to run on-device AI models.

Built by TSMC on its 2nm node, the new chip incorporates a custom vapor chamber for improved thermal management.

Apple says that the new cooling solution makes the A20 Pro better than its competition at multitasking, gaming, and complex AI workloads. The company also claims that the new chip offers 35% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.

The Duo sports a 48MP Fusion ultra-wide main camera on the outside, paired with a secondary 12MP 2x optical telephoto camera. The main sensor supports 4K 120fps recording and 4K time lapse in Dolby Vision HDR. Additionally, there’s a Center Stage camera on the front and an under-screen FaceTime camera on the inside for video calls.

The iPhone Duo is built out of Grade-5 titanium that adds structural rigidity and keeps the weight down. It also uses a 3D-printed hinge cover with a micro-blasted finish, offering a stark contrast to the mirror polish of the main frame. Apple also added antenna splits with ceramic fiber inserts to enhance the frame’s rigidity.

The foldable brings back Touch ID with an old-school fingerprint scanner integrated into the power button. It can also be unlocked using Face ID and with the Apple Watch. The device uses Apple’s in-house N1 networking chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity, while the C2 cellular modem adds 5G mmWave support.

The Duo ships with iOS 27, but with several features designed specifically for the folding screen. One of the custom features is the Today View, which shows two Home Screens, including one with a vertically scrolling list of customizable widgets. Other changes include a redesigned Dynamic Island and a circular module on the status bar to show Wi-Fi, cellular strength, and battery information.

The iPhone Duo is available in Star White and Night Sky colorways, starting at $1,999 for the base $256GB model. Pre-orders begin October 16, with general availability from October 23.

A nearly identical exploit kit that targets critical vulnerabilities in both Chromium-based browsers and older versions of Windows is being actively used by at least four hacking groups, some of which have ties to the Chinese government.

Researchers from security firm Proofpoint said Wednesday that BlueMoon, the name they gave to the kit, chains three vulnerabilities together so the attackers using it can install malware of their choice. BlueMoon exploits two Chromium vulnerabilities and one in the kernel of Windows 10 (Oct 2018 Update), Windows Server 2019, Windows 10 2004, Windows Server 2022, and the initial release of Windows 11. All three vulnerabilities have received patches in the past 24 hours.

Deployed rapidly, widely shared

The attacks lacked the stealth found in many campaigns. More often, hackers want to exploit newly discovered vulnerabilities sparingly to lengthen their longevity. Proofpoint hypothesized that one reason for the widely used and visible exploit chain was to take advantage of a “patch gap” in the Chromium supply chain, which spans the time a patch is available from developers and the time that patch is incorporated into browsers such as Chrome and Edge. Another likely contributor was the use of AI, which can often spot vulnerabilities faster than discovery performed solely by humans.

Both these factors likely pushed the attackers to move quickly before a window of opportunity closed. Proofpoint said:

A fully weaponized Chrome exploit chain has historically been a high-value, rare capability. BlueMoon was developed, deployed rapidly, and shared across multiple threat actors within days in a manner that had high detection signals. This may reflect a reduced cost and barrier to entry for this class of capability, as AI agents increasingly enable threat actor exploit development. This is particularly relevant for open source codebases, such as Chromium, where upstream patches are publicly accessible prior to downstream consumers of the codebase applying the patch. This creates a window for threat actors to attempt to rapidly reverse engineer patches and develop exploits ahead of downstream stable releases.

The four groups targeted a wide range of organizations and companies. The groups and targets included:

Monitoring a home often means watching several things at once. Just as a car pulls into the driveway, a visitor might approach the front gate, or movement could catch your eye in the side garden. For many European homes, this is a familiar scenario.

The challenge becomes even more noticeable when a property includes a backyard, detached garage, or swimming pool. Installing another camera for every angle is one solution, but it also means more devices to set up, manage, and maintain.

Multi-lens cameras offer a more practical way to see more from a single device. While dual-lens models have pushed outdoor security in the right direction, they still face limitations. Because these lenses often capture activity independently, crucial details can slip through the cracks. Even designs pairing a fixed lens with a movable one can leave blind spots, and overall coverage remains inherently limited by having only two perspectives.

At IFA 2026, EZVIZ is taking the idea a step further with its 90f Triple series. It is available in two models, with the wired EZVIZ H90f Triple and the battery-powered EZVIZ HB90f Triple offering different power options. The series has been named an IFA Innovation Award Honoree, putting three-lens outdoor security among the innovations EZVIZ is highlighting at this year’s show.

Three lenses change more than the viewing angle

Both models share the triple-lens design at the heart of the 90f Triple series, pairing three lenses with three motors and dual rotations. Unlike a setup where one perspective remains fixed, this design gives the cameras greater freedom to adjust their viewing direction, reducing the pressure to find the perfect installation angle.

Imagine someone entering through the front gate, then heading toward a side garage. Or picture movement starting at the far edge of the garden and steadily approaching the house. EZVIZ’s Co-Detection technology enables all three lenses to work in unison to automatically track a target as it moves. This helps capture a more fluid, detailed picture rather than just disjointed views of the same space.

While the automation handles the heavy lifting, stepping in manually is just as fluid. You can set the lenses to operate independently and toggle between viewpoints with a quick tap. When a faraway subject needs your attention, the triple-lens 3K clarity and 12x lag-free mixed zoom help bring distant activity into clearer focus.

This flexibility makes the 90f Triple series suitable for a wide range of property layouts. Whether it’s a cottage with a deep garden, a terraced house with multiple outdoor zones, a sprawling farmhouse, or a small business managing an entrance and parking lot, the cameras are designed to meet different coverage challenges.

Maximum coverage without the alert fatigue

Seeing more is useful, but it can easily create a new problem if every bit of outdoor activity becomes another notification to check.

Both the H90f Triple and HB90f Triple use AI-powered human and vehicle shape detection to identify relevant activity. Familiar face recognition provides even more context by identifying people the cameras already know, making it easier to understand what is happening at a glance. Moreover, EZVIZ processes this feature locally at no additional cost.

Where the HB90f Triple differs is its power setup and additional battery-model features. For locations where wired power is inconvenient, its 10,400mAh rechargeable lithium battery works alongside an included 8W solar panel to minimize the need for manual maintenance. Whether you are monitoring a detached garage, a large garden, or a rural property, this setup provides greater flexibility over where the camera can be installed.

The HB90f Triple also features AOV 2.0 technology to close the potential gaps that can come from relying solely on event-triggered recording. If suspicious activity occurs, its built-in siren and red-and-blue warning lights serve as an active deterrent rather than merely recording the event.

For years, seeing more of a property meant installing another camera. EZVIZ is now drawing on its smart home expertise to make the case for a different approach. Moving from one lens to two gave outdoor security a new perspective, but three coordinated lenses allow a single device to monitor more of the spaces you actually want to keep in view. With the 90f Triple series at its IFA 2026 showcase, EZVIZ offers a compelling look at where multi-lens security is heading next.

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