Spotted a security flaw in Apple's software? The tech giant will now pay up to a record $200,000 as a thank you.
The bounty was announced at the Black Hall information security conference, and will come into force next month.
Bug bounties are nothing new, and Apple has been late to embrace the growing trend for tech firms to pay people to alert them to security issues.
Pressure has grown in recent months, after the FBI found a way to exploit iPhone's security systems to bypass the passcode lock.
Some in the security community pointed out that with a rewards system for reporting bugs in place, white hat hackers - who are well-meaning - would have spotted it and alerted Apple.
Ivan Krstic, Apple's head of security engineering and architecture, told the Las Vegas conference: "We've had great help from researchers like you in improving iOS security all along.
"Feedback that we've heard pretty consistently both from my team at Apple and also from researchers directly is that it's getting increasingly more difficult to find some of those most critical types of security vulnerabilities.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Islamic State Leader Killed In Egypt Airstrike
An Islamic State leader has been killed in a series of airstrikes, according to Egypt's military.
Abu Duaa al-Ansari, who the country identifies as the forerunner of a group calling itself Sinai Province, died after the attack near Arish, along with 45 other Islamist fighters.
In 2014, an Egyptian militant group called Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM) pledged allegiance to Islamic State and changed its name to Sinai Province.
The country's army said al Ansari was behind scores of deadly attacks on security forces and the suspected downing of a Russian passenger jet in 2015.
The Egyptian military announced the news on its Facebook page, declaring: "This successful operation confirms the pledges of the armed forces to avenge their martyrs and ... pursue all the terrorist elements and leaders wherever they are found until Egypt and its great people enjoy security and stability."
Egypt's army has been engaged in military operations against Islamist insurgents in Northern Sinai for several years, but attacks against them have intensified since the removal of former president Mohamed Morsi in August 2013.
Hundreds of soldiers and policemen have been killed by an insurgency since mid-2013, when then-army chief Abdel Fattah al Sisi ousted Mr Morsi following mass protests.
Last month Egypt's army suffered one of its deadliest days in decades after militants thought to be members of ABM launched an attack in Northern Sinai which killed 33 security personnel.
Mr al Sisi blamed the involvement of foreign forces and announced the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza.
Roads Blocked In UK Black Lives Matter Protests
Supporters claiming to be part of the Black Lives Matter movement brought traffic to a standstill in parts of the UK.
Activists had called for a "nationwide #shutdown" in a post on social media on Thursday, with events being held in London, Birmingham, Nottingham, and Manchester.
Sky News understands six protesters locked themselves to boxes on the road, while others were lying on the tarmac obstructing holidaymakers heading to Heathrow Airport.
Video footage showed police officers hunkering down next to the protesters, while chants of "black lives matter" could be heard.
Police were using specialist equipment to cut the protesters free and re-open the road.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at 8.25am this morning to the M4 slip road at one of the world's busiest airports.
Screens have been put up to prevent distraction for motorists.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Officers have attended and a number of people have been arrested.
"One lane has been opened but there is traffic congestion. Police continue to deal with the situation at the scene."
Heathrow said the protest does not appear to be causing people to miss flights.
A spokesman said: "Heathrow supports the right to peaceful protest within the law, but the safety and security of our passengers, aircraft and colleagues, together with the smooth running of the operation, is paramount.
"We are sorry to those passengers whose journeys are being disrupted and we are working with the authorities to resolve the issue."
Members of the movement are also causing delays to the tram network in Nottingham city centre by lying on the tracks.
Nottinghamshire Police said officers are at the scene negotiating with a small number of protesters and screens have also been put up.
Earlier this morning during rush hour a group of protesters blocked the A45 in Solihull, and five people were arrested for obstructing the highway.
The group has said it staged the "shutdown" of roads to "mourn those who have died in custody and to protest the ongoing racist violence of the police, border enforcement, structural inequalities and the everyday indignity of street racism".
The demonstrations come on the fifth anniversary of the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan by police in north London, which led to riots in several cities across England.
Mark Duggan was shot dead by police in north London five years ago
The Black Lives Matter movement began in the US in protest against police killings of black people.
Two white officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killed a black man during a scuffle and an officer in Minnesota shot and killed a black motorist during a traffic stop, sparking protests.
Police have also been the victims of fatal shootings, with five officers killed in Dallas, Texas, and three law enforcement officers gunned down in Baton Rouge.
Turkey's EU Membership Talks 'A Fiction'
Negotiations with Turkey in its quest to become a member of EU are a "fiction", according to the Austrian Chancellor.
Using language which could deepen the rift between the EU and Turkey, Christian Kern told the Austrian newspaper Die Presse it was important to "face the reality: the accession negotiations are currently no more than a fiction".
Mr Kern suggested he would consult other EU leaders about ending all discussion of a possible Turkish membership.
His words prompted an angry response from Turkey's Europe Affairs Minister, who said they came close to the rhetoric of the far right.
Mr Kern is looking into ending EU membership negotiations with Turkey entirely
"It's disturbing that his statements are similar to those of the far right ... Criticism is surely a democratic right but there has to be a difference between criticising Turkey and being against Turkey," Omer Celik told reporters in Ankara.
Mr Kern said Turkey's illegibility for membership was not only as a consequence of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hard-line crackdown following the coup attempt, but also because of the clear economic disparities between EU countries and Turkey.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has appeared to distance himself from the remarks, telling German television he does not think it would be helpful to end the negotiations.
If Turkey was to join the EU it would have to sign up to the four fundamental pillars of the Union - free movement of goods, services, capital and people - which Mr Kern warned would create massive economic distortions not acceptable in Europe.
The prospect of Turkey joining the EU was a key issue in the UK referendum, with the Vote Leave campaign presenting it as a certainty.
Many in the Remain campaign insisted there was no prospect of Turkey becoming an EU member for many decades, if at all.
The Austria-Turkey row is only the beginning of what's expected to be a particularly bitter disagreement between the EU and Turkey, which will have big implications when it comes to a head in the next few months.
In March, at the height of the continent's migration crisis, the EU reluctantly agreed to re-energise talks with Turkey about its future EU membership, as well as accelerate visa liberalisation for Turkish nationals wanting to travel to the EU.
In return, Turkey agreed to help Europe deal with its migration crisis by taking back "all new irregular migrants" and stepping up coastal border patrols.
The deal was done at a time when European leaders were backed into a corner with the migrant crisis out of control: the only way to stem the flow of migrants into Europe through Greece was to strike a deal with Turkey who had the power to stop the migrants; and the only way to get Turkey on board was to offer them an EU membership carrot.
But the deal is now showing signs that it could be about to fall apart. The Austrian Chancellor's comments add to the concern.
In return for visa-free travel for its 79 million people within the Schengen Zone of the EU (which doesn't include the UK), Turkey was required to meet 72 criteria.
These included small issues like bringing Turkish passports up to EU standards.
But it also included bigger and more difficult issues which Turkey has failed to deliver on, including changing its definition of which groups are classed as terrorists.
The visa liberalisation package - visa-free travel for a three month period - was due to come into effect in June.
That deadline has now passed and a new one is set for October.
Turkey has threatened that if it doesn't get visa free travel for its citizens by then, it will drop its side of the bargain.
EU leaders have said they will not be blackmailed, but they are presented with a clear dilemma.
Either they risk allowing the resumption in the flow of thousands of Iraqi, Syrian and Afghan refugees and migrants into Greece from Turkey, or they grant visa-free travel to Turkey despite the government in Ankara failing to meet fundamental criteria and displaying increasingly autocratic signals - especially since the attempted coup - which put it well out of line with European values.
There is one silver lining for EU leaders. The fall in the number of migrants and refugees coming to Europe via Turkey is, in significant part, a result of Turkish cooperation following the deal.
But the closure of European borders along the migrant route has also discouraged others from making the journey.
EU leaders could gamble; reject Turkish demands for visa liberalisation, let the deal collapse and then hope that border closures continue to stem the flow.
A final thought: the Turkish Prime Minister recently told Sky News of his country's blossoming friendship with Russia.
"We will see more developed relations ... We have common interests, a common future," Mr Yildrim said.
That's quite a comment from the leader of a NATO member about the alliance's biggest foe.
A deepening spat with the EU may only push Turkey closer to Russia.
Clint Eastwood Slams 'Kiss-A**' Generation
Clint Eastwood has attacked the current generation of Americans in an outspoken magazine interview, describing it as weak and "walking on eggshells".
Speaking to Esquire, the 86-year-old Oscar winner gave a harsh assessment of contemporary Americans while offering his tepid support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
The 86-year-old said: "He's (Trump's) onto something because secretly everybody's getting tired of political correctness, kissing up.
"That's the kiss-a** generation we're in right now ... Everybody's walking on eggshells.
"We see people accusing people of being racist and all kinds of stuff.
"When I grew up, those things weren't called racist."
Asked about the choice between Mr Trump and rival Hillary Clinton, Eastwood added: "That's a tough one, isn't it?
"I'd have to go for Trump ... you know, 'cause she's declared that she's gonna follow in Obama's footsteps.
"He's said a lot of dumb things. So have all of them. Both sides.
"But everybody - the press and everybody's going, 'Oh, well, that's racist,' and they're making a big hoodoo out of it.
"Just ... get over it. It's a sad time in history."
Eastwood's comments drew both criticism and support on social media.
"Clint Eastwood was born in 1930. Let's start a list of things that weren't considered racist when he was growing up," tweeted Sarah McBride, the national press secretary of the Human Rights Campaign gay rights group.
Others praised Eastwood, with on Twitter user writing: "Thank you Clint Eastwood. You've always been a personal hero. You said what needed to be said."
Knife Attack Victim Named As Darlene Horton
The woman killed in a mass stabbing in London's Russell Square has been named as American citizen Darlene Horton.
A statement issued by Florida State University (FSU), where Mrs Horton's husband Richard Wagner works as a psychology scholar, said the couple were in London for a summer course.
They were due to return to the US today.
FSU President John Thrasher said: "There are no words to express our heartache over this terrible tragedy."
It comes after the 19-year-old arrested on suspicion of murder following the knife attack in central London was named by Sky sources as Zakaria Bulhan.
The victim has been named as 64-year-old American Darlene Horton
The Norwegian national, who is believed to suffer from mental health problems, remains in custody.
Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said Bulhan is believed to be of Somali descent and emigrated to the UK in 2002 with his family.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it appeared terrorism was not a motive in the Russell Square attack.
He said: "Whilst the investigation is not yet complete, all of the work we have done so far increasingly points to this tragic incident having been triggered by mental health issues."
Mr Rowley described it as a "spontaneous attack and the victims were selected at random".
A body is removed from the scene in Russell Square
Police were called to reports of an armed man attacking people at 10.33pm on Wednesday.
Bulhan was arrested on suspicion of murder six minutes later after being taken out by a Taser.
An unnamed woman in her 60s, now confirmed as an American national, was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead a short time later.
The other victims were a British man, an American man, an Australian man, an Australian woman, and an Israeli woman.
The Briton remains in hospital, while the four other injured people have been discharged.
Police have interviewed the suspect, spoken to his family, talked to witnesses and searched properties in north and south London, including the 19-year-old's home.
Mr Rowley said "so far we have found no evidence of radicalisation".
As a precautionary measure Mr Rowley said extra police would be deployed in London on Thursday to provide reassurance.
Speaking to Sky News, London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the quick police response to the incident, adding: "London is no less safe today than it has been in the recent past."
He said: "London is safe. The police have been working their socks off since the first call was made to the police.
"There is no evidence at all that this man was motivated as a consequence of Daesh or similar sorts ... of groups.
appear to be somebody who had mental mental health problems, according to the police."
A cyclist passing Russell Square shortly after the stabbing was flagged down by a Spanish family helping the victims.
Fernando, from Brazil, saw a woman in her 60s with a stab wound to her back.
He told Sky News: "She had her head in a Spanish woman's lap, the lady, who was trying to keep her alive by talking to her."
Fernando also saw an Englishman aged about 45 with an injury to his side and a woman in her 20s with a wound on her upper arm.
"The lady from the Spanish family told me that the guy had passed by, running, stabbing people," he said.
said he had been wearing black shorts and a white t-shirt and was chubby.
"Apparently he wasn't shouting anything."
Pol O'Geibheannigh was walking back from the cinema when he saw a woman lying in a pool of blood.
He told Sky News: "It was just wall to wall with armed police. You could see a woman on the floor.
"She was lying in a pool of blood with a red blanket on top of her. I went into the bar and it wasn't until an hour later that they put the tent up."
As morning broke officials were seen removing a body bag from the area.
Tommaso Greco, 26, who works in Pret opposite the scene, said: "I am a little bit worried, for sure. Because it could happen to anyone. They were just in the middle of the street. And here, generally, there are a lot of people. It is a tourist area."
He added that staff at the shop had initially been told that it would not open today, but that later changed.
:: Anyone with information about the Russell Square attack is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Six In 10 Britons 'Hooked' On Smartphone
The UK is spending more time online than ever with the average person on the internet for 25 hours each week, according to an Ofcom report.
On average Britons spend eight hours and 45 minutes a day using media and communications including TV and the internet - more time than they spend asleep.
To escape the flood of information, 15 million internet users have tried a digital detox - purposefully logging off from connected devices.
Jane Ramble, director of market intelligence at Ofcom, told Sky News: "What we've found in the last few years is that the smartphone has become more and more important to people as the main means of going online and that many people are attached to their phone.
"It's a great way of staying up to date with what's happening at home and at work, but today six in ten people have said they are hooked on these portable devices and I think it's that shift that is causing people to reflect on this and decided to get a bit of a breather."
However, exactly the same proportion of those surveyed - 34% - said they would never like to try a digital detox.
Some 71% of UK adults now own a smartphone - up from 66% last year, the survey of 2,025 adults and 500 teenagers found.
The figures also showed 86% of adults now have home internet access and 75% say the internet is important to their lives.
Four in 10 adults feel that they are ignored by a friend or relative at least once a week because they are glued to their smartphones.
And 12% of people say they bump into someone on the street at least once a week while they are looking at their mobiles.
Although older people are spending more time online and using smartphones more, a generational divide remains.
Of those aged 65 and over, 39% think it is "unacceptable" to take a selfie in public places.
By comparison only six per cent of teenagers felt that way.
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