Tech
Apple Podcasts App Hack Warning — What You Need To Know
Beware this Apple Podcasts app potential security threat.
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Having jumped ship from Android as my daily smartphone driver, and from Windows for my laptop, to Apple some years ago now, I am, naturally, always keen to explore any potential security issues involving the ecosystem. Usually, this will involve a threat, such as the ‘helpful message’ attack targeting iPhone users, or iOS vulnerability hunting, and sometimes, well, rarely, even a macOS backdoor. I have never had to issue a hacking warning about the Apple Podcasts app though. Until now.
What The Heck Is Happening With The Apple Podcasts App?
“Something very strange is happening to the Apple Podcasts app,” renowned technology and security investigative journalist Joseph Cox wrote. That was, frankly, enough to grab my attention, especially as he went on to describe how the app was mysteriously opening on its own accord on both iOS and macOS and, critically, on one occasion, the opened podcast page in the app included “a link to a potentially malicious website.” The red flags in my brain were certainly getting rather agitated by this point.
Cox readily admitted he had no idea what was happening here, so he asked a cybersecurity expert who’s usually on top of every weird app behaviour with hacking potential. “The app can be launched automatically with a podcast of an attacker’s choosing,” Patrick Wardle, the macOS security expert in question confirmed, “and unlike other external app launches on macOS, no prompt or user approval is required.”
The Apple Podcast App Hack Warning Explained
While in and of itself this is worrying, it’s not what you would call an attack by the Apple Podcasts app itself. It is, however, a hacker’s dream by creating what could be “a very effective delivery mechanism if (and yes, big if) a vulnerability exists in the Podcasts app.”
There’s no suggestion that one does, of course, and Apple has yet to respond to my Thanksgiving weekend request for a statement. That does not mean this is of no concern, far from it. As Cox has already stated, a podcast on the app, that opens of its won accord, attempting to “direct listeners to a site that attempts to perform a cross-site scripting, or XSS, attack” is hardly a non-event in security terms. That link was, it appears, included within the show website part of the podcast page and kickstarts a redirect to the malicious content.
“Whether any of those attempts have worked remains unclear, but the level of probing shows that adversaries are actively evaluating the Podcasts app as a potential target,” Wardle told Cox and 404Media. I will update this article if any further information is forthcoming from my request to Apple.
Tech
Wateen and Beaconhouse Strengthen Partnership to Pioneer Digital Learning
Wateen Telecom has strengthened its partnership with Beaconhouse Group, Pakistan’s largest network of private educational institutions, to enhance managed internet services over SD-WAN and fortify the digital learning infrastructure across the school network.
The agreement was signed by Mr. Ali Ahmad Khan, Chief Operating Officer, Beaconhouse, and Mr. Adil Rashid, CEO, Wateen Telecom.

The signing ceremony was attended by senior representatives from both organizations.
This collaboration builds on a longstanding foundation that reflects a shared commitment to enabling future-ready learning environments powered by secure, scalable, and reliable connectivity – pioneering the future of digital education in Beaconhouse schools across Pakistan.
The upgraded SD-WAN and Wi-Fi infrastructure will enhance classroom connectivity, support high-density usage, and create a more seamless experience for students accessing digital tools, cloud-based apps, and online learning resources.
This initiative reflects Wateen’s ongoing focus on strengthening Pakistan’s digital education landscape, enabling schools to deliver richer, more reliable learning experiences through modern, high-performance connectivity.
Tech
Vivo X300 Pro Is An iPhone 17 Pro Rival With A Bigger Battery And Zeiss-Tuned Cameras
Vivo X300 Pro in Dune Gold
Prakhar Khanna
Vivo launched the X300 and X300 Pro at an event in Shanghai, China on October 13, followed by an India debut last week. The Vivo X300 Pro takes on the iPhone 17 Pro, Oppo Find X9 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with an improved camera system, the latest MediaTek processor, and a familiar design language – something Oppo and OnePlus have deviated from this year.
The new flagship sports a large circular camera module on the back but flattens its sides. Vivo has steadily removed curves from its premium phones, a move that might bother some people. However, this design offers better grip than the slippery Vivo X100 Pro and is nowhere near as sharp as the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. While the phone is heavy at 228 grams, it feels comfortable thanks to good weight distribution. It retains the IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance ratings from last year.
There is no annoying Camera Control copy here, but you do get an Action Button clone on the left side. It supports both a standard long-press and a double-press trigger, which is currently not possible on Apple iPhones.. For example, I have set my unit to trigger DND with a long press and enable the flashlight with a double press.
Vivo X300 Pro display
Prakhar Khanna
The Vivo X300 Pro features a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with thinner bezels, making the device slightly slimmer and shorter than its predecessor. Colors are vivid, and the screen is easily legible in bright environments. It supports a 1,260 x 2,800 resolution with 452ppi pixel density, a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, and a 94.85 percent screen-to-body ratio that makes HDR content look more immersive than before.
Under the hood, the Vivo flagship is powered by the top-tier MediaTek Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. It offers smooth performance in day-to-day use and handles demanding games without overheating. You will notice the thermal improvement over last year’s Dimensity 9400 and recent rivals during extended gaming sessions.
Vivo continues its photography lead with a triple rear camera setup. The X300 Pro sports a 50MP Sony LYT-828 main camera, a 200MP telephoto sensor with 3.5x optical zoom, and a 50MP JN1 sensor for ultrawide shots.
Vivo X300 Pro camera samples
Prakhar Khanna
Zoom shots from the new Vivo X300 Pro
Prakhar Khanna
As for the camera quality, you get good color vibrancy and white balance in daylight shots. Compared to the Vivo X200 Pro, the new model manages highlights and shadows better, offering more detail in challenging low-light environments. Portrait shots look as good as before, though there are occasional inconsistencies in processing. And like before, there are plenty of Zeiss effects and filters to play around with.
It also gets a Telephoto Extender Kit that supports 2.35x zoom. Co-engineered with Zeiss, the kit includes a lens, adapter ring, mounting parts, and a matching phone case. Unlike the Oppo-Hasselblad Teleconverter Kit, Vivo’s Extender Kit works with both the X300 Pro and the standard X300.
Vivo X300 Pro in Dune Gold
Prakhar Khanna
The Vivo X300 Pro packs a big 6,510mAh battery in China and India, though European models will ship with a smaller 5,440mAh cell. Both versions support 90W wired fast charging and 40W wireless charging. Regardless of the region, it should last an entire day with ease on moderate use. However, don’t expect it have multi-day endurance of the Oppo Find X9 Pro or the OnePlus 15.
For the first time, Vivo is bringing its OriginOS out of China. The Vivo X300 Pro runs Android 16-based OriginOS 6 globally. It offers a modern design, better UI uniformity, and is a clear upgrade over Funtouch OS.
You get iOS 26-like design elements, including translucent effects and a Dynamic Island-style feature for multitasking. For instance, you can select multiple photos from the gallery, drag them to the top of the screen to reveal shareable options, and drop them into an app like WhatsApp. It is a smart implementation of an existing concept.
Vivo X300 Pro: Price And Availability
Vivo X300 Pro in Dune Gold
Prakhar Khanna
The Vivo X300 Pro is priced at INR 1,09,999 for the single 16GB RAM + 512GB storage variant in India. It is available for pre-booking now and will go on sale in Dune Gold and Elite Black starting December 10. Like previous Vivo flagships, the X300 series will not be released in the U.S.
Tech
Zuma Resources Approves Asset Sale, Shifts Focus to Tech and EV Investments
Zuma Resources Limited (formerly Bilal Fibres Limited) has announced a strategic shift in its business direction, with the Board of Directors approving a new focus on investments and partnerships across technology, AI-enabled services, electric vehicles (EV), healthcare, e-commerce, and other sectors.
In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange, the company said its board, at a meeting held on December 5, 2025, also approved the sale of land, buildings, plant, machinery, and other fixed assets.
The asset sale is being carried out in compliance with an order from the Lahore High Court to settle outstanding bank liabilities.
Additionally, the board approved the financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2025, and authorized management to convene the annual general meeting on December 31, 2025.
Zuma Resources, which recently rebranded from Bilal Fibres Limited, said it will keep stakeholders informed of further developments as it pursues its new investment strategy and completes the court-mandated asset sale.
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