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42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
M5 MacBook Pro: Here's the biggest rumored upgrades
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The M5 MacBook Pro has generated a ton of buzz so far. That's likely because Apple's rumored successor to the MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 and MacBook Pro 16-inch M4 Pro isn't expected to offer more than a standard spec bump. Based on what we've heard, the rumored MacBook Pro M6 should offer more significant upgrades, including an OLED panel and a brand-new design. If true, that would place the M5 MacBook Pro in an odd spot, as some might choose to wait for its M6-powered successor. Even if the MacBook Pro M5 isn't expected to be all that exciting, it could be worthwhile if you're in desperate need of a new MacBook Pro. Here are some of the biggest rumored upgrades for the M5 MacBook Pro. Apple M5 chip The most significant rumored upgrade for the M5 MacBook Pro is the unannounced Apple M5 chip. According to South Korean publication ET News, Apple began production of the new chip in Taiwan at TSMC sequentially with "USA Amco and China JCET." This production detail is noteworthy, especially given Apple's recent move to produce chips at an Arizona facility. While some chips are already being manufactured there, expanding production to other regions could be a strategic move to mitigate the impact of tariffs. ET News provided limited details about the new processor, though it did indicate that the M5 chips are expected to "enhance artificial intelligence performance." The report also mentioned four versions of the chip: base, Pro, Max, and Ultra, which is consistent with previous M-series chip generations. As reported by MacRumors, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that the M5 chip will utilize TSMC's N3P method, a more advanced 3nm process than the one used for M4 processors. If the performance gains of the M5 chip align with previous M-series upgrades, we could see a 15 to 25% improvement over the M4. While M4 MacBook Pro owners might notice minimal day-to-day differences, those with older MacBook Pros could experience a substantial boost in both performance and power efficiency. Upgraded camera The 2025 MacBook Pro line may introduce a new feature: a compact camera module (CCM). A CCM is a self-contained camera system typically found in smartphones and tablets, which includes the camera sensor, digital signal processing unit and infrared filter, but excludes the lenses. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Neowin), Vietnamese company Sunny Optical is expected to supply the new CCMs. This is significant because LG Innotek and Sharp have historically provided CCMs for MacBooks. Sunny Optical's advantage lies in its vertical integration, allowing it to produce both the CCM and the lenses as a single unit. This capability could lead to more compact webcams in future MacBooks. If successful, Kuo suggests that Sunny Optical could expand to supplying CCMs for future iPhones and iPads. However, this hinges on the company's ability to successfully produce these modules for the upcoming MacBook models. M5 MacBook Pro Outlook Based on what we've heard, the M5 MacBook Pro might not be all that exciting. As I said, rumors suggest the M6 MacBook Pro is the one to keep an eye on as it should deliver substantial upgrades like an OLED panel and a new design. That being the case, skipping the M5 MacBook Pro and waiting for its successor might be the smartest option. As for when the M5 MacBook Pro could arrive, it could be sometime during the fall, which is when Apple typically launches its MacBook Pros. However, as we saw when the M2 MacBook Pros launched in January of 2023, this isn't always the case. And if Apple tipster Mark Gurman's sources are correct, it's possible that the MacBook Pro M5 won't launch until early 2026 (via MacRumors). That's all we know about the rumored M5 MacBook Pro for now, but we'll keep our ear to the ground and update you when we hear anything new. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide I review MacBooks for a living, and I install this app on every one — here's why MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Here's what you should buy Here's the 5 best accessories I recommend for back to school
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
After researchers unmasked a prolific SMS scammer, a new operation has emerged in its wake
If you, like practically anyone else with a cell phone in the U.S. and beyond, have received a scam text message about an unpaid toll or undelivered mail item, there's a good chance you have been targeted by a prolific scamming operation. The scam isn't particularly complex, but it has been highly effective. By sending spam text messages that look like genuine notifications for popular services, from postal deliveries to local government programs, unsuspecting victims click a link that loads a phishing page, they enter their credit card details, and that information is swiped and used for fraud. During a period of seven months in 2024, the scam netted at least 884,000 stolen credit card details, allowing scammers to cash in on their victims' accounts. Some victims lost thousands of dollars in the scam, researchers say. But a series of opsec mistakes ultimately led security researchers and investigative journalists to the real-world identity of the maker of the scamming software, Magic Cat, who researchers say goes by the handle Darcula. As revealed by the Oslo-headquartered security firm Mnemonic and reported in tandem by Norwegian media earlier this year, behind the fluffy cute cat in Darcula's profile photos is a 24-year-old Chinese national named Yucheng C. The researchers say Yucheng C. develops Magic Cat for his hundreds of customers, who use the software to launch their own SMS text message scam campaigns at their victims. Soon after he was unmasked, Darcula went dark and his scam operation has not seen any updates since, leaving his customers in the lurch. But in its wake, a new operation has emerged and is already vastly outpacing its predecessor. Researchers are now sounding the alarm on the new fraud operation, Magic Mouse, which rose from the ashes of Magic Cat. Ahead of sharing new findings at the Def Con security conference in Las Vegas on Friday, Harrison Sand, an offensive security consultant at Mnemonic, told TechCrunch that Magic Mouse has been surging in popularity since the demise of Darcula's Magic Cat. Sand also warned of the operation's growing ability to steal people's credit cards on a massive scale. During their investigation, Mnemonic found photos from inside the operation posted in a Telegram channel that Darcula administered, showing a line-up of credit card payment terminals and videos showing racks with dozens of phones used for automating the sending of messages to victims. The scammers use the card details in mobile wallets on phones and conduct payment fraud, laundering their funds into other bank accounts. Some of the phones had mobile wallets overflowing with other people's stolen cards, ready to be used for mobile transactions. Sand told TechCrunch that Magic Mouse is already responsible for the theft of at least 650,000 credit cards a month. While evidence suggests Magic Mouse is an entirely new operation, coded by new developers and likely unrelated to Darcula, much of Magic Mouse's success stems from the new operators stealing the phishing kits that made its predecessor's software so popular. Sand said these kits contain hundreds of phishing sites that Magic Cat used to mimic the legitimate web pages of major tech giants, popular consumer services, and delivery firms, all designed to trick victims into handing over their credit card details. But despite the prolific nature of Magic Cat and, now, Magic Mouse, and their ability to net millions of dollars in stolen funds from consumers, Sand told TechCrunch in a call that law enforcement is not looking beyond a few scattered reports of fraud or at the wider operation behind the scheme. Instead, Sand said, it is the tech companies and financial giants who shoulder much of the responsibility for allowing these scams to exist and thrive, and for not making it more difficult for scammers to use stolen cards. As for anyone who receives a suspicious text, ignoring an unwanted message might be the best policy. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
After researchers unmasked a prolific SMS scammer, a new operation has emerged in its wake
If you, like practically anyone else with a cell phone in the U.S. and beyond, have received a scam text message about an unpaid toll or undelivered mail item, there's a good chance you have been targeted by a prolific scamming operation. The scam isn't particularly complex, but it has been highly effective. By sending spam text messages that look like genuine notifications for popular services, from postal deliveries to local government programs, unsuspecting victims click a link that loads a phishing page, they enter their credit card details, and that information is swiped and used for fraud. During a period of seven months in 2024, the scam netted at least 884,000 stolen credit card details, allowing scammers to cash in on their victims' accounts. Some victims lost thousands of dollars in the scam, researchers say. But a series of opsec mistakes ultimately led security researchers and investigative journalists to the real-world identity of the maker of the scamming software, Magic Cat, who researchers say goes by the handle Darcula. As revealed by the Oslo-headquartered security firm Mnemonic and reported in tandem by Norwegian media earlier this year, behind the fluffy cute cat in Darcula's profile photos is a 24-year-old Chinese national named Yucheng C. The researchers say Yucheng C. develops Magic Cat for his hundreds of customers, who use the software to launch their own SMS text message scam campaigns at their victims. Soon after he was unmasked, Darcula went dark and his scam operation has not seen any updates since, leaving his customers in the lurch. But in its wake, a new operation has emerged and is already vastly outpacing its predecessor. Researchers are now sounding the alarm on the new fraud operation, Magic Mouse, which rose from the ashes of Magic Cat. Ahead of sharing new findings at the Def Con security conference in Las Vegas on Friday, Harrison Sand, an offensive security consultant at Mnemonic, told TechCrunch that Magic Mouse has been surging in popularity since the demise of Darcula's Magic Cat. Sand also warned of the operation's growing ability to steal people's credit cards on a massive scale. During their investigation, Mnemonic found photos from inside the operation posted in a Telegram channel that Darcula administered, showing a line-up of credit card payment terminals and videos showing racks with dozens of phones used for automating the sending of messages to victims. The scammers use the card details in mobile wallets on phones and conduct payment fraud, laundering their funds into other bank accounts. Some of the phones had mobile wallets overflowing with other people's stolen cards, ready to be used for mobile transactions. Sand told TechCrunch that Magic Mouse is already responsible for the theft of at least 650,000 credit cards a month. While evidence suggests Magic Mouse is an entirely new operation, coded by new developers and likely unrelated to Darcula, much of Magic Mouse's success stems from the new operators stealing the phishing kits that made its predecessor's software so popular. Sand said these kits contain hundreds of phishing sites that Magic Cat used to mimic the legitimate web pages of major tech giants, popular consumer services, and delivery firms, all designed to trick victims into handing over their credit card details. But despite the prolific nature of Magic Cat and, now, Magic Mouse, and their ability to net millions of dollars in stolen funds from consumers, Sand told TechCrunch in a call that law enforcement is not looking beyond a few scattered reports of fraud or at the wider operation behind the scheme. Instead, Sand said, it is the tech companies and financial giants who shoulder much of the responsibility for allowing these scams to exist and thrive, and for not making it more difficult for scammers to use stolen cards. As for anyone who receives a suspicious text, ignoring an unwanted message might be the best policy.
