Tech
Scammers Are Innovating. Security Advice Isn’t Keeping Up
Messages that Shreya Datta, a tech professional who was a victim of an online scam known as “pig butchering,” exchanged with a person who would later turn out to be a scammer are displayed on her phone in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 9, 2024. The “wine trader” wooed her online for months with his flirtatious smile and emoji-sprinkled texts. Then he went for the kill, defrauding the Philadelphia-based tech professional out of $450,000 in a cryptocurrency romance scam. The con, which drained Datta, 37, of her savings and retirement funds while saddling her with debt, involved the use of deepfakes and a script so sophisticated that she felt her “brain was hacked.” (Photo by Bastien INZAURRALDE / AFP) (Photo by BASTIEN INZAURRALDE/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Young Americans, not retirees, are now the hardest hit by texting and messaging scams, according to Consumer Reports’ recently published annual Consumer Cyber Readiness Report. That’s not the profile anyone expected. These are the so-called digital natives, raised on password hygiene and phishing awareness. Yet they’re falling for scams at record rates.
The reason is that modern scams ranging from online extortion (or the more salaciously named sextortion) scams, to fake job or brand ambassador scams that promise quick riches to “too good to be true” online retail scams don’t prey on the same online hygiene that older scams like phishing and password theft relied on. The users are convinced to be willing participants, at least until the attacker makes off with their money (or sadly something worse in the case of sextortion).
The report’s recommendations are familiar: use password managers, turn on multi-factor authentication, install anti-tracking browser extensions. It’s sensible advice, but it doesn’t address AI threats. And if you run a business, you should be paying attention because very similar attack techniques are being used to try to get your users credentials as a starting point for a breach.
The Myth of ‘Good Digital Hygiene’
For years, the security industry has told users that discipline beats deception. The problem is that scam believability has evolved at hyperspeed thanks to AI.
The newest generation of scams isn’t about clicking a bad link. It’s about being convinced that the voice, face or text on the other end is real. Personalized, AI-driven impersonation is now cheap, convincing and scalable. Password managers, encrypted drives and privacy extensions all help with breach prevention, but they do nothing to stop you from voluntarily giving attackers the personal information they want.
Even the Consumer Reports data shows the limits of these habits. You can’t password-manage your way out of a phone call from someone who sounds like your CEO.
Why Training Doesn’t Work
Meanwhile, a team at the University of California, San Diego, recently tested whether phishing and scam training reduces employee susceptibility. The answer was no. Humans are pattern-recognition machines, and attackers know it. They build campaigns to exploit that predictability.
Training tries to make people spot anomalies in the scammer’s communications. AI used by scammers makes those anomalies disappear by generating much more realistic and believable communications that authentically sound like the person or institution they are imitating.
For consumers, the best advice now is simple: never trust inbound communication. Hang up, look up the contact info yourself and call back through a verified number. It’s inconvenient, but it eliminates the attacker’s most valuable weapon, control of the conversation.
For enterprises, that’s much harder to do.
From Text Scams to Help Desk Breaches
Everything that makes these scams effective at the consumer level works even better inside an enterprise. Attackers have discovered that help desks, HR departments and finance teams are just as susceptible to social pressure as consumers are to fear or sympathy.
When a caller impersonates a CFO and demands an urgent wire transfer, the employee knows there’s a process to follow. But under pressure, they improvise. That’s where the breach begins, not in the code, but in the exception.
Organizations love to say, “follow process,” but few reward it when it causes delay. The fastest way to stop these attacks is to do the opposite: celebrate employees who slow things down. Make it a badge of honor to hold the line when something feels wrong.
If a company doesn’t have a clear policy for authenticating requests that fall outside normal workflows, it’s already exposed.
The Industry’s Long Memory and Short Attention Span
Social engineering isn’t new. Kevin Mitnick, who was famously convicted of hacking into dozens of corporate computer systems was using it decades ago. The difference is scale. Today’s scammers don’t need to con their way into a single company. They can deploy AI agents that do it thousands of times a day.
The hacking group Scattered Spider used these same tactics to breach major casinos in September 2023. Its playbook wasn’t technical genius. It was human manipulation: impersonate IT, pressure staff, gain access, escalate privileges. AI simply industrializes the technique.
What Comes Next?
Security awareness programs are fighting an outdated war. The next one will be waged in real time across voice, video and chat. Companies will need technology that can detect emotional manipulation and behavioral anomalies in communication, not just malware in email.
That’s starting to change. New platforms are training models to recognize speech patterns that indicate social pressure or deception, for example. (Disclosure: I have invested in two companies tackling this problem: one on the corporate/helpdesk side and one on the consumer side. Neither has come out of stealth yet, but I’m optimistic they and others like them will make a difference.)
These solutions are early, but they represent a shift in mindset. The problem isn’t bad passwords or lazy users. It’s that the human layer of security has become the primary attack surface.
Stay Suspicious
If you take one lesson from the Consumer Reports study, it’s this: everyone is a target, and most of the defenses you’ve been told to deploy won’t help. Scams have become a machine-learning problem, not an awareness or hygiene issue.
Until defenses catch up, the only real advice for both consumers and companies is to assume every inbound communication is a setup. Verify, delay and reward skepticism.
Attackers are betting you won’t.
Oppo Find X9 Pro
Prakhar Khanna
Oppo Find X9 series is all set to be launched outside of China next week. Ahead of the October 28 launch, the company has been teasing its new features one by one. In the latest announcement, Oppo has revealed a deeper collaboration with Google for several AI features on its upcoming phones. These include the likes of the Mind Space app, enhanced Gemini integration with first-party Oppo apps and more.
Oppo is teaming up with Google to personalize the AI experience and offer more capabilities on its new Find X9 series. Starting with Oppo’s Mind Space app, you’ll be able to save on-screen content via a three-finger swipe gesture and then have Gemini AI act on the saved info.
For instance, you can add your preferences and ideas for a trip to the said app and then ask Gemini to create a detailed itinerary. Moreover, Mind Space will automatically categorize saved content to offer a more organized experience.
The Oppo Find X9 and Find X9 Pro will run on Android 16-based ColorOS 16. It will also bring better Gemini integration with first-party apps and Nano Banana AI image editing capabilities. You’ll also get access to Gemini Live on Oppo’s upcoming flagship phones.
All the new AI features (Mind Space, AI Search, AI Call Summary, AI VoiceScribe, AI Recorder, and AI Writer) are built on Oppo’s AI Private Computing Cloud with Google Cloud protection. It is said to ensure that “sensitive data for AI processing is handled in a secure and encrypted environment.” Oppo Find X9 buyers will also be eligible for a free three-month Google AI Pro subscription.
While having new AI capabilities on flagship phones is great, most of these features aren’t always reliable. I’ve struggled to trust AI for personal use cases and important tasks. It’ll be interesting to see if the Oppo Find X9 series can change my perception.
“Working closely with partners like Google allows us to integrate next-generation AI experiences that are not only powerful but also highly personalized and secure,” said Kai Tang, President of Software Engineering at OPPO. “Our goal is to provide users with an AI assistant that both truly understands their personal needs and is also worthy of being entrusted with their personal data.”
Apple is working on a new iPad Pro for 2027 (already!) and it seems it will take one of the features which pleased fans in the iPhone 17 Pro: a vapor cooling chamber.
Apple iPad Pro – will the next model have a new cooling system?
Apple
“One of the best new features in Apple Inc.’s iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max is the vapor chamber, a liquid-cooling system that helps tame the heat generated by the smartphones’ powerful chips,”says Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
Personally, I never found the iPhone 16 Pro got uncomfortably hot, but Gurman correctly points out that with the latest models you can “now dive into intensive games, advanced video editing or processing-heavy Apple Intelligence tasks without feeling like you need an oven mitt.”
In early testing of the new iPad Pro with M5 chip, released on Wednesday, Oct. 22, I have not found any issues with the tablet getting even remotely warm.
Of course, that’s not the whole story: to run demanding apps and, more importantly, to sustain them, the processor needs to keep its cool more than ever. As Gurman puts it, “The iPad Pro also can occasionally hit its limits and overheat — especially as demands on the device grow… Now that Apple’s iPhone chips are nearly as powerful as laptop versions, this feature has become critical.”
Apple will include an updated processor, the M6, Gurman says, perhaps built with a 2-nanometer production technique, which would add performance and efficiency.
It’s worth noting that there’s already a cooling system in the iPad Pro, with a copper heatsink, as reported by 9to5Mac. But the vapor cooling chamber in the iPhone, a deceptively small and slim element that moves heat around at speed.
So, to add it to the iPad Pro would be another way to differentiate it from other iPads in the range. It already has an OLED screen, and it’s thinner than the iPad Air, but the more differences to justify the price difference the better, Apple may consider.
Gurman says that he thinks Apple is using an 18-month cadence for the iPad Pro, which means the iPad Pro with M6 is likely to arrive in spring 2027.
Now that the latest iPhones are out, you may want a case to go with it. After all, although the price increases predicted didn’t properly materialize, the iPhone is a valuable piece of kit.
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Before you ask, last year’s cases don’t fit, and anyway, do you really want a year-old case on your brand-new phone?
Here are a dozen of the newest releases, and they come in varying styles, from wraparound wallets to high-protection sleeves. Choose from leather, Apple’s new TechWoven or a transparent case to show off the colorful phone within. Unless otherwise stated, all cases here are available for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Look out for whether the case has an open section where the Camera Control sits, or a cover that still allows the pressure-sensitive and capacitive control to work.
The deals highlighted in this post were independently selected by the Contributor and do not contain affiliate links.
Smooth Leather Case
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
$75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Case with Horween Leather
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
California-based Nomad makes a wide range of products, including iPhone cases and a just-released Apple Watch Band. Horween leather is one of the options for the back cover of the Modern Leather case, though other leather options are also available, and are $20 cheaper.
Horween leather, especially, gains a unique patina the more it is used. The case is strong enough to survive an eight-foot drop, the company says. The bumpers are 2.2mm thick and they rise above the display at the corners for further protection. The edges have a concave finish, designed for extra grip.
Slim Protection
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
$59.99 from ipitaka.com
Pitaka Aramid ProGuard Case
Pitaka
Camera Control: Cover
Protection on the Pitaka cases partly comes from cushioning on the rear corners and partly from what’s described as aerospace-grade aramid fiber. The back is textured, to add extra grip.
Unlike some cases which have dealt with the complex needs of the Camera Control capacitive button, Pitaka has developed a cover that’s slim but responsive when you press or slide your finger on it.
Fashion-Forward Protection
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
$79 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Rugged MagSafe Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Beats, the other brand that Apple owns, has a case that doesn’t look rugged. Rugged usually means bulky but the choice of colors, such as Sierra orange makes this case more style-focused. If orange is too much for you, Everest black and rocky blue will suit quieter tastes.
There’s a big lip over the edge of the display designed to keep it safe. The bottom half of the case, including the back and edges, is rougher to make it stay in your hand, while the top half is completely smooth.
Transparent Protection
Mous Clarity MagSafe
$69.99 from mous.co
Camera Control: Cover
Mous made its name with phone cases claiming to have exceptional protection – and the company’s stunts throwing phones high up in the air outside the Apple Store aimed to prove the point. It uses a proprietary shock absorption material called AiroShock which is in the corners of the case. The case is designed so that the top and bottom edges are raised for extra safety, but lower at the sides so it fits your face during calls.
The protective cover on the Camera Control requires a firm press to activate.
Apple’s New Material
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
$59 from apple.com
Apple TechWoven case with MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Colours: Blue, purple, sienna, green, black
Apple no longer makes cases and accessories from leather, citing environmental concerns. TechWoven is a bespoke woven fabric made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. It feels rough rather than smooth, unlike the smoothness of the leather cases Apple used to make, and has contoured edges. There are five colors to choose from: blue, purple, sienna, green and, the quietest of the lot, black.
There are also holes to allow compatibility with Apple’s latest accessory, the Crossbody strap, which holds the phone on an adjustable long strap.
Comfort-oriented Case
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
$59.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union (RE)Classic Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Open
Paris-based Native Union has a range of iPhone 17 case designs. The frame here is made with a 100 per cent recycled materials. The colors are black, navy and slate green which are muted, though the tan option is a bit brighter. The back and edges have a textured finish while the lining is soft. Unlike some cases, this is slim and light, adding little to the bulk of the phone.
Apple’s Clear Case
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
$49 from apple.com
Apple Clear Case With MagSafe
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
Some clear cases, like the Mous Clarity, have opaque panels on the edges. However, this one has completely clear sides and buttons, so the phone inside is fully revealed. The only non-clear button is the cover for Camera Control. Apple says the new case has a scratch-resistant coating and won’t turn yellow — that’s been true of previous Apple clear cases.
Note that the cases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a white panel that exactly matches the glass rectangle on the phone itself, complete with its own logo. This is less noticeable on the silver iPhone, but more prominent if you have the cosmic orange or navy blue colorway. The regular iPhone has a fully clear back, apart from the MagSafe magnifying glass.
Colorful Case
Nomad Modern Case
$49 from nomadgoods.com
Camera Control: Cover
This is similar to the leather case from Nomad above, with the same side bumpers and metal button covers. It also has the same Camera Control cover. If you don’t care for leather, this case has similar attributes but has a satin PET backplate which is shiny and smooth.
As well as two quiet colors, Vulcan black and lunar grey, there’s also Volt which has a neon-bright quality to it.
Case With Kickstand Accessory
Beats Kickstand Case $59 from beatsbydre.com
Beats Kickstand Case
Apple
Camera Control: Cover
This isn’t the only case with a kickstand but the way Beats has achieved it is novel. A lanyard in a contrasting-color is attached to the left edge of the case. The lanyard is short, long enough to slip your hand through — which may make some users feel they are holding the phone more securely in less salubrious surroundings.
At the end of the lanyard is a smooth plastic lozenge that slides open to reveal an adaptor which holds the iPhone in landscape orientation. There’s a magnet in the adaptor that connects to another in the edge of the case.
Card-Friendly Case
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
$29.99 from smartish.com
Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 1
Smartish
Camera Control: Open
Smartish makes a range of cases and other smartphone accessories. The Wallet Slayer has an external slot on the back of the phone that holds up to four credit cards and cash. It is designed so that each card is held in place by a springy mechanism.
The flexible material has air pockets in the corners to act as shock absorbers — Smartish says it can protect the phone from a drop of six feet. Note that the card pocket means wireless charging doesn’t work with this case.
Case With Camera Panel Protection
Native Union Active Case
$49.99 from nativeunion.com
Native Union Active Case
Native Union
Camera Control: Cover
If you’re worried about scratching the panel where the cameras sit, this case has a black covering within the plateau, protecting everything except the lenses and sensor. This panel gives a darker look to the back of the iPhone. Unlike Native Union’s other case, above, this one has a cover for the Camera Control. Where the (Re)Classic has more recycled material, here it accounts for 40%. Native Union says it can survive a drop of 10 feet. Choose from apricot crush, black, sandstone or slate green.
Folio Cases
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
From $225 from lucrin.com
Lucrin Luxury Wallet
Lucrin
Camera Control: Open
Lucrin makes a dizzying variety of cases (and other leather goods). So along with the Luxury Wallet there’s also a sleeve, a sleeve with a pull-tab, a pouch with a pocket, a back cover, a zip wallet, a belt case and more.
Once you’ve decided on the form factor, there are different finishes: plant-based material, smooth leather, pebbled leather and crocodile style calfskin, for example. And the smooth leather comes in more than 20 colors. And that’s before you get to the personalization options. The Luxury Wallet has a sleeve for banknotes and three card slots, plus a magnetic flap to hold the wallet closed.
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
$44.99 from snakehive.com
Snakehive Vintage Leather Wallet
Snakehive
Camera Control: Open
UK company Snakehive makes leather wraparound folios from leather but at prices lower than many rivals. The leather has a suede-like finish on the outside and smooth, shiny leather inside. There is a sleeve for banknotes and space for three credit cards to nestle.
A small leather flap with magnetic closure keeps it all intact. The large camera panel on the Pro and Pro Max means there’s a noticeable amount of the TPU inner case visible.
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
From $75 from nomadgoods.com
Nomad Modern Leather Folio
Nomad
Camera Control: Cover
Like the other folios here, the Nomad Modern Leather Folio has three card slots and a longer slot for cash. It also has a magnetic clasp but this one is optional: you slide it through a discreet gap in the edge of the case if you want to use it.
Colors vary according to leather and model. For iPhone 17, there’s regular leather and two colors, brown and black. For 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max there’s also a tan variant with regular leather. The Pro models also have Horween leather available ($109), in rustic brown, black and a limited edition called burgundy chromexcel.
Bluebonnet Executive Leather iPhone Wallet Case Folio
$95 from bluebonnetcase.com
Camera Control: Cover
There are only two card slots in this folio, plus the sleeve for cash. The Tuscan Tan finish uses full-grain calf leather but remains slim and has a magnetic closure. That closure lets Bluebonnet’s pale blue shine through — the same color is in the company’s cartoon images which sit inside the sleeve on the microfiber and cotton lining.
Bluebonnet says the color pays homage to the Texas state flower (the bluebonnet) — the company is based in Texas.
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