Hackers Are Screen Sharing on Macs Without Permission, but You Can Stop Them

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Whether you have a MacBook Neo or an iMac, stay vigilant: Hackers are exploiting a known security vulnerability in macOS that allows bad actors to activate Screen Sharing without the proper permissions. Because macOS lets screen sharers control screens remotely, this flaw is particularly dangerous. Luckily, Apple fixed this issue before anyone knew the flaw was exploited.

The company released three new security updates for Macs on Thursday, Aug. 6. You don't need to be running the latest version, macOS 26, to take advantage of these updates, either. While the company does have a new Tahoe update, Apple's security updates here include releases for both macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma as well—and all of these updates patch this screen sharing flaw.

Apple's latest macOS security patches fix a Screen Sharing vulnerability

macOS Tahoe 26.6.1, macOS Sequoia 15.7.9, and macOS Sonoma 14.8.9 all contain the same, singular security patch: Tracked as CVE-2026-65400, this fix is for a Screen Sharing flaw that Apple says could allow an attacker on your network to "authenticate to Screen Sharing without valid credentials." In layman's terms, this security flaw could let hackers activate Screen Sharing without permission, which would leave the contents of your Mac's display totally open to anyone in the know.

Apple's Screen Sharing feature is complex, which is good for usability but potentially dangerous in this case. Not only can people using Screen Sharing see your Mac's display, they can, if prompted, take over your Mac as well. Typically, this requires permissions on both sides to activate, so a bad actor could also theoretically take control of your computer using this flaw—accessing your files, messages, or anything else on your Mac.

At the time, Apple did not say that this flaw was previously publicly disclosed or being actively exploited, so it's not clear how long hackers have been using it. But it's likely we'll see more cases like this going forward: Certain AI models, like Claude Mythos, are adept at discovering security vulnerabilities, so it's possible someone out there could have found this flaw before Apple did. Luckily, the patch is now out for anyone running the latest three versions of macOS, so all you have to do to protect yourself is update your Mac.

How to install this Screen Sharing security patch on Mac

Whether your Mac is brand new or a few versions behind, there's a very good chance you can install one of these security patches. To do so, open System Settings > General > Software Update, let macOS look for the update, then follow the on-screen instructions to download and install it.

GitHub Is Down

If you're trying (and failing) to access GitHub Monday morning, you aren't alone. According to Downdetector, the hosting provider has over 3,000 user reports indicating issues or downtime with the service. Whether you're a developer trying to update your repository, or you're a user trying to access one, GitHub may give you trouble.

If the comments on Downdetector are any indication, this is not the first time GitHub has had service issues. One comment reads: "Cmon [GitHub] get your sh*t together...this is getting old." (The user added their own asterisks.) Scrolling through the comment history, users reported errors one or twice a week throughout August. I'm not a regular GitHub user, so I can't attest personally to repeated downtimes, but it does seem as though this isn't wholly unusual.

As such, even though it isn't clear why GitHub is down right now, chances are good that the company will get the site up and running shortly. Assuming nothing catastrophic is happening behind the scenes, developers and users alike should be able to access the site sometime today. But I will continue to update this piece if GitHub's downtime extends longer than normal.

This $45 JBL Speaker Is Small Enough for a Bag and Tough Enough for the Beach

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The JBL Go 5 is down to $44.95 from $54.95 on Amazon, and price trackers show that this is its lowest price so far. At roughly four inches wide and just over half a pound, it is small enough to toss into a backpack, clip onto a bag, or keep on your desk without taking up much room. The upgraded IP68 rating also makes it a better travel companion than the Go 4, especially for beach days, hikes, or anywhere dust and water are likely to show up.

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Battery life gets a modest improvement too, with JBL rating the Go 5 for up to eight hours of playback, or around 10 hours with Playtime Boost turned on. That should comfortably cover a day out, but it is not built for all-day-and-night listening. The same goes for volume. It gets reasonably loud for something this small, but it is better suited to a picnic table, bedroom, or a few people sitting nearby than covering a backyard party. Its front-facing driver also makes placement more important, since the sound is noticeably stronger when you are sitting in front of the speaker than off to either side.

That said, the Go 5 does add a few conveniences that make it easier to live with—you can now play audio over USB-C, Bluetooth 6.0 brings LC3 codec support, and AirTouch lets you pair two Go 5 speakers for stereo simply by bringing them together. JBL’s companion app also gives you more control over the EQ if you want to tweak the sound. None of these upgrades dramatically change the listening experience compared with the Go 4, so owners of the older model do not have much reason to rush out and replace it. At $45, though, the Go 5 is the better buy for someone who wants a compact speaker with more durability, slightly longer battery life, and a few useful extras without moving up to a larger model.

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ChatGPT Can Now Remember Actions You Takr on Your Mac

If you use ChatGPT on your Mac, and you have the right type of account, you'll soon be able to start asking your bot questions about how you use your computer. As highlighted by 9to5Mac, OpenAI announced "Computer History" on Thursday, a new feature that lets ChatGPT keep a history of actions you take on your Mac.

As OpenAI pitches it, you'll be able to ask ChatGPT about projects you recently worked on, request details about your work "patterns," and turn frequently used tasks into automations. For example, you could ask ChatGPT "What was I working on before I took a break?" and, with Computer History enabled, it can look through your recent activity to deliver your answer. You could also ask about files you remember looking at, but can't find, e.g., "Where is that planning document I was looking at this morning?"

How ChatGPT's Computer History works

Unlike something like Windows Recall, Computer History doesn't actually take screenshots of your Mac's display to work. It also doesn't record your screen or tap into microphones or system audio. Instead, the feature collects data from the sources you allow it to see. Every time you click, type, use a keyboard shortcut, and switch an app, Computer History takes note. It even watches out for "context" from macOS accessibility processes to inform its records. OpenAI says that Computer History will occasionally save this data as both text summaries and local memory files.

The good news for the privacy-minded is that Computer History is opt-in by default. That means it won't work until you manually enable the feature. Even when you do, Computer History won't track everything you do out of the box: You'll be able to choose which apps and sites ChatGPT keeps tabs on, and you can pause "collection" from the menu bar at any time. Private or incognito browsing is never recorded either. There are separate controls for workspace access, personal opt-in, memories, and apps and sites, and you can adjust all of these settings at any time.

In addition to asking ChatGPT directly about your history, you can manually review the data the feature collects yourself. Under Settings > Computer history > History, you'll find the local memory file for summaries, options to delete individual items, and the ability to clear a specific timeframe of history, similar to how clearing your history works in a web browser.

Is ChatGPT's Computer History secure?

The short answer? No. While OpenAI is adamant that the feature stores your data in secure locations away from other apps, it acknowledges that the feature can and does store sensitive information without encryption. As such, programs running as your macOS user may be able to access these files. What's more, the company is open about the fact that Computer History increases your risk of prompt injection attacks, as ChatGPT may follow malicious instructions it sees on the apps and websites it's tracking.

OpenAI also processes some of these files on its server in order to generate memories. The company says it doesn't save those files after processing unless required by law, and claims it doesn't use them for training. That said, OpenAI may scrape chat content that uses one of these processed memories in a future chat for training, if you allow the company to train its models off your ChatGPT data.

As with AI browsers, there are likely steps you can take to limit your risk exposure while using Computer History, but as it stands, it seems those risks far outweigh the benefits. You might like a feature like this if you frequently forget what you were working on earlier in the day, or if you're looking for an objective analysis of how you use your Mac. But I think there are other systems you can use to stay on task that don't expose you to a privacy invasion or, even worse, a cyberattack.

How to turn on Computer History in ChatGPT

If you're interested in trying this feature out, it's easy to enable—assuming you're under the right ChatGPT plan. OpenAI says that Business or Enterprise workspace users will need administrator approval first. If you're a personal ChatGPT user, you'll need to subscribe to ChatGPT Pro for access.

Assuming you meet one of the above qualifications, you can get started by opening ChatGPT's Mac app, then, in Settings, head to Integrations > Computer history. Here, choose "Turn on," then review all permissions and settings. You will need to turn on "Memories" if it isn't enabled already, as the app uses the feature for context as you move through chats and tasks. Finally, choose the apps and websites Computer History will track, and enable any macOS permissions required.

Under Settings > Computer history > Permissions, you'll find options for "Exclude these apps," "Exclude these websites," "Include only these apps," and "Include only these websites" that will let you fine-tune Computer History's tracking to a degree. You can also pause or stop Computer History at any time from your Mac's menu bar.

You Can Get This 5.1-Channel Surround Sound Setup on Sale for $399 Right Now

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A soundbar is often the easiest way to fix thin TV audio, but a single bar can only go so far when you want movies and games to feel more immersive. That is where a fuller surround setup can help, and Amazon currently has its Fire TV Soundbar Plus bundle for $399.99, down from $489.99. Unlike the soundbar-only version, this package gives you a proper 5.1-channel setup, with the bar handling the front and center channels, the subwoofer adding low-end impact, and two speakers sitting behind you for surround effects. Its dedicated center channel should also make dialogue easier to follow when background music or action gets busy.

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The system also supports Dolby Atmos and DTS, along with Dolby TrueHD, so it can handle the surround formats you are likely to run into on streaming services and Blu-ray discs. That said, the bar does not use dedicated upward-firing speakers for Atmos effects, so sounds that are supposed to come from above are created virtually rather than with physical height channels. You still get the wider sense of space that comes from having rear speakers, but buyers looking for convincing overhead effects should temper expectations. Also, the soundbar itself is not Alexa-enabled and does not support Alexa Home Theater, so the Fire TV branding does not mean it doubles as a smart speaker, notes this PCMag review.  

Setup is otherwise straightforward. Once the subwoofer and satellites are plugged into power, they connect to the soundbar wirelessly, while the bar itself connects to your TV through HDMI ARC or eARC for the best Dolby Atmos and DTS support. Bluetooth is also available when you just want to play music from a phone or tablet. Plus, compatible Fire TV devices can show sound presets (including Movie, Music, Sports, and Night sound modes) directly in the interface, and HDMI control can let one TV remote handle basic power and volume duties—though, there is less room for fine-tuning than you would get from more expensive home-theater systems with room correction or deeper calibration tools.

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You Can Get Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra2 for $100 Off Right Now (Plus a $100 Amazon Gift Card)

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 was announced at the Samsung July Unpacked event last month, showcasing the popular wearable’s extended battery life, improved outdoor performance, and a lighter design, putting it on the wishlists of many Samsung and Android users. Right now, Amazon has it down to $699.99 from $799.99, which price trackers show is its lowest price so far, and it also comes with a $100 gift card for a little extra value.

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The 800mAh battery is around 35% larger than its predecessor, lasting around 60 hours with the display always on and about three days on lighter settings. And while it still can’t replace a Garmin, it’s significantly more rugged than the Ultra, with features like dual-frequency GPS, trail-run tracking with elevation data, hydration guidance, a titanium build, 10ATM water resistance, IP69K protection, and EN13319 dive certification. NB-NTN satellite connectivity is also an exciting improvement, letting you send messages or make calls without a cell signal.

The 47mm face has a 5,000-nit AMOLED display (up from 3,000 nits) for superior brightness and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, built for AI workloads. The design is also lighter and more comfortable; despite the bigger battery, it’s now 12% thinner with a lighter strap, but still equally rugged with its titanium case. Compared to the Galaxy Watch 9,  the Ultra 2 is more durable and has a pretty major battery advantage.  

If you spend a lot of time outdoors and want a premium LTE smartwatch that can handle all your adventures, this Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 deal is one worth considering. On the other hand, if you mostly want notifications, fitness tracking, and sleep data, the Galaxy Watch 9 might be a more sensible choice.

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Here’s What to Do Now That Microsoft Edge Is Phasing Out Ad Blockers

If you're a Microsoft Edge user, you will soon find that some older extensions—like uBlock Origin—no longer work. That's because Microsoft is following Google Chrome's lead in transitioning to the Manifest V3 extensions platform and disabling MV2 add-ons in the process. Edge is built on Google's Chromium engine, so the change isn't unexpected, but it does impact users who rely on older ad blockers.

Microsoft is ending support for older Edge extensions

Microsoft recently announced that it will begin turning MV2 extensions off by default over the next few months, and support for these add-ons will end completely for most users by the close of 2026. (The transition for enterprise is expected to be finalized in early 2027.)

Microsoft notes that 95% of MV2 extensions on Edge have already moved to MV3, leaving fewer than 60 in the Edge Add-on store still on MV2. That includes uBlock Origin, which does have an MV3 version in uBlock Origin Lite, but the latter isn't as powerful as its predecessor and hides content rather than keeping it from loading in the first place. AdBlock, AdBlock Plus, and AdGuard are other MV3 alternatives with Edge versions, though they are not perfect replacements for uBlock Origin either thanks to restrictions on how MV3 ad blockers are able to filter content.

You can switch to other browsers with ad-blocking capabilities

If you want to retain the ad-blocking features you're used to, you can move away from Edge (and Chrome) to a browser that's not Chromium-based. The alternatives also tend to be pretty decent when it comes to privacy. One is Firefox, which runs on its own Gecko engine and still allows these older ad-block extensions, including uBlock Origin. DuckDuckGo and Brave both have built-in ad-blocking capabilities. Note that Opera, which is Chromium-based, has said the platform plans to continue MV2 support for now, but that may end eventually.