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Urgent Warning To iPhone Users — Turn Off Popular Feature And Take These Steps For Safety

Matzav -

Apple’s AirPlay feature, praised for its convenience, may also be putting users at significant risk of cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity experts at Oligo have uncovered critical weaknesses in AirPlay, revealing that hackers can exploit these flaws to take control of devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

AirPlay enables users to wirelessly transmit audio, video, and images from an Apple device to other Apple products or supported third-party hardware that incorporates the technology.

Wired reported that a total of 23 security holes — collectively labeled “AirBorne” — were identified in both Apple’s AirPlay system and the software development kit used by third-party manufacturers to enable AirPlay on their devices.

In a proof-of-concept video, the researchers showed how a Bose speaker with AirPlay functionality could be targeted over a shared network, allowing for a Remote Code Execution (RCE) attack. The screen of the speaker was remotely manipulated to show the “AirBorne” label.

The team warned that this method could theoretically be used to access microphones on compromised devices, potentially allowing for covert surveillance.

Gal Elbaz, Chief Technology Officer at Oligo, explained to Wired that the scope of potentially affected devices is vast.

“Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch — or they will never be patched,” Elbaz explained. “And it’s all because of vulnerabilities in one piece of software that affects everything.”

Oligo alerted Apple to the flaws last fall and continued to work closely with the company over the following months to develop appropriate fixes. The public disclosure of their research came on Tuesday.

Apple addressed the vulnerabilities in its own devices with software updates released March 31, applying patches to iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, macOS Ventura 13.7.5, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, macOS Sequoia 15.4, and visionOS 2.4.

Despite these patches, third-party devices that support AirPlay remain at risk. Oligo said that it’s now up to manufacturers to issue updates that users can install to shield their devices from potential breaches.

In a statement to Wired, Apple confirmed it had made patches available for these third-party systems, but clarified that “limitations” exist in the kind of attacks that could actually be performed on AirPlay-enabled devices exploiting these bugs.

The researchers added that vehicles equipped with CarPlay are susceptible too. If a hacker is close by and the Wi-Fi hotspot password is “default, predictable, or known,” they may be able to launch a remote attack.

To guard against these vulnerabilities, Oligo offered several steps users should take immediately:

Update your devices: Ensuring that all AirPlay-capable devices are running the most current software is critical to reducing the chances of an attack.

Disable AirPlay Receiver: Turning off the AirPlay feature when not in use can close off a major potential entry point.

Only use AirPlay with trusted devices: Restrict usage to familiar and secure devices to reduce exposure.

Modify AirPlay Settings: Navigate to Settings > AirPlay & Continuity (or AirPlay & Handoff) and set “Allow AirPlay for” to Current User. Although not a total fix, the researchers say this limits the ways the protocol can be exploited.

Avoid using AirPlay on public networks: AirPlay should not be used over public Wi-Fi, as this increases the risk of external breaches.

{Matzav.com}

Rubio Clashes with Kaine Over White South African Farmers

Yeshiva World News -

Rubio tears into Democrat over white South African farmers in heated exchange: KAINE: “Can you have a different standard based upon the color of somebody’s skin?” RUBIO: “I’m not the one arguing that. Apparently, you are because you don’t like the fact that they’re white”

Trump Administration Halts Routine COVID Shots for Healthy Young Adults and Children

Yeshiva World News -

Annual COVID-19 shots for healthy younger adults and children will no longer be routinely approved under a major new policy shift unveiled Tuesday by the Trump administration. Top officials for the Food and Drug Administration laid out new requirements for yearly updates to COVID shots, saying they’d continue to use a streamlined approach that would make vaccines available to adults 65 and older as well as children and younger adults with at least one health problem that puts them at higher risk. But the FDA framework urges companies conduct large, lengthy studies before tweaked vaccines can be approved for healthier people. In a framework published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, agency officials said the approach still could keep annual vaccinations available for between 100 million and 200 million adults. The upcoming changes raise questions about people who may still want a fall COVID-19 shot but don’t clearly fall into one of the categories. “Is the pharmacist going to determine if you’re in a high-risk group?” asked Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The only thing that can come of this will make vaccines less insurable and less available.” The framework, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, is the culmination of a series of recent steps scrutinizing the use of COVID shots and raising major questions about the broader availability of vaccines under President Donald Trump. For years, federal health officials have told most Americans to expect annual updates to COVID-19 vaccines, similar to the annual flu shot. Just like with flu vaccines, until now the FDA has approved updated COVID shots when manufacturers provide evidence that they spark just as much immune protection as the previous year’s version. But FDA’s new guidance appears to be the end of that approach under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, who has filled the FDA and other health agencies with outspoken critics of the government’s handling of COVID shots, particularly their recommendation for young, healthy adults and children. Tuesday’s update, written by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary and FDA vaccine chief Vinay Prasad, criticized the U.S.’s “one-size-fits-all” approach and states that the U.S. has been “the most aggressive” in recommending COVID boosters, when compared with European countries. “We simply don’t know whether a healthy 52-year-old woman with a normal BMI who has had Covid-19 three times and has received six previous doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will benefit from the seventh dose,” they wrote. Outside experts say there are legitimate questions about how much everyone still benefits from yearly COVID vaccination or whether they should be recommended for people at increased risk. An influential panel of advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is set to debate that question next month. The FDA framework announced Tuesday appears to usurp that advisory panel’s job, Offit said. He added that CDC studies have made clear that booster doses do offer protection against mild to moderate illness for four to six months after the shot even in healthy people. (AP)

A Name before his Bris, A Prayer and a Future – For Tzeela Gez HY”D Newborn Son

Matzav -

In the shadow of heartbreak, a flicker of hope has emerged.

Just days after the horrific attack that claimed the life of Tzeela Gez (z”l), her family has announced the name of the child she never got to hold: Ravid Chaim.

His name carries a world of meaning — and a nation’s prayers.

“Ravid”, a name that Tzeela herself cherished, – a fitting tribute to the soul who gave so much light to the world.
“Chaim”, meaning life, was added as a prayer — a cry from the depths of grief that this baby, born into sorrow, should live, grow, and thrive.

Ravid Chaim never saw his mother’s face, never felt the warmth of her embrace. But through his name, he carries her essence. And through our actions, he will carry her legacy.

Donate Now

The Gez family chose this name. It’s not just a memory, but a mission — a plea to Am Yisrael to continue davening, to continue giving, to continue holding this family close as they rebuild their world from the rubble of tragedy.

Let the name Ravid Chaim echo in our tefillos.
Let it move our hearts to action.
Let it be a symbol of what we stand for — that life is sacred, and no Jewish child should ever walk alone.

We cannot bring Tzeela back.
But we can bring her children security.
We can bring her husband strength.
We can bring light back to a home that was shattered in an instant.

📍 Partner with the Gez family. Help build a future for Ravid Chaim and his siblings.

Because Am Yisrael does not forget.
Am Yisrael does not abandon.
And Tzeela’s light will shine — through Ravid Chaim. Through us.

charidy.com/Gezfamilyfund

Golan Accuses IDF of ‘Killing Babies as a Hobby,’ Faces Nationwide Backlash

Matzav -

Democratic Party Chairman Yair Golan sparked outrage on Tuesday with his controversial comments about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza during an interview on Kan Reshet Bet radio.

“A sane country doesn’t kill babies as a hobby,” Golan declared. “Israel is on its way to being a pariah, a South Africa once was, if it doesn’t return to sanity.”

He further stated, “A sane country doesn’t fight a war against civilians, it doesn’t aim to expel a population.”

Golan leveled fierce criticism against Israel’s current leadership, saying, “This government is full of people who have no connection to Judaism. Vengeful types, lacking sense, morals, and the ability to manage a country during an emergency. This endangers our very existence.”

His remarks drew immediate backlash from across the political landscape.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu lashed out at Golan, denouncing his rhetoric as “reckless incitement against our heroic soldiers and the State of Israel. The IDF is the most moral army in the world, and our soldiers are fighting in a battle for our very existence.”

Netanyahu reminded the public of Golan’s past controversial behavior: “Golan, who has encouraged refusal to serve and previously compared Israel to the Nazis while in uniform, has now reached a new low by claiming that Israel ‘kills babies as a hobby.'”

The prime minister went on to say, “While we are conducting a multi-front war and leading complex diplomatic efforts to free our hostages and defeat Hamas, Golan and his radical left allies echo the most despicable antisemitic blood libels against IDF soldiers and the State of Israel. There is no limit to this moral decay.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded without naming Golan directly. “Our soldiers are heroes and protect our lives. The statement that they kill babies as a hobby is mistaken and a gift to our enemies. I back the IDF and its soldiers and condemn the statement.”

President Isaac Herzog also weighed in, calling the remarks an unacceptable attack on those risking their lives. “Our daughters and sons are now at the front, defending us—the people, the country. They’ve left behind their hobbies, their families, their livelihoods, and their lives. Severe and false slander against IDF soldiers is a red line. Our soldiers are among the most moral in the world, and when they fight with utmost dedication to protect the nation and bring back the hostages, this is not a hobby.”

Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity Party and a former military chief, urged Golan to take back his words and apologize. “IDF soldiers do not ‘kill babies’ as a hobby. These words are not only outrageous, false, and extreme but also endanger the freedom of our heroic soldiers in the face of international law.”

Gantz stressed the IDF’s long-standing adherence to ethical warfare. “The State of Israel has been waging a just war since its establishment, doing so in accordance with international rules and the highest moral values. No one knows this better than Golan, who was Deputy Chief of Staff. Retract and apologize, Yair, it’s not too late.”

Defense Minister Yisroel Katz condemned Golan in even stronger terms, saying: “The one who in the past compared Israeli society to the Nazi regime and now slanders and defames Israel and the IDF during a war must be rejected from public life.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Home Depot Says It Doesn’t Expect To Boost Prices Because Of Tariffs

Yeshiva World News -

Home Depot doesn’t expect to raise prices because of tariffs, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves. Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call on Tuesday that Home Depot’s suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn’t expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now. “We don’t see broad based price increases for our customers at all going forward,” he said. Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way due to a trade war kicked off by the U.S. Walmart said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000. President Donald Trump lambasted Walmart, saying on social media over the weekend that the retail giant should “eat” the additional costs created by his tariffs. As Trump has jacked up import taxes, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economists are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation. During the first quarter, Home Depot’s revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects. A number of U.S. companies have lowered or pulled financial guidance for investors as tariffs launched by the the Trump administration scramble world trade but on Tuesday, Home Depot stuck by earlier projections of sales growth at around 2.8%. Shares of the Atlanta company dipped slightly on Tuesday. Revenue rose to $39.86 billion from $36.42 billion a year earlier, beating the $39.3 billion that analysts polled by FactSet expected. Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, edged down 0.3%. In the U.S., comparable store sales climbed 0.2%. Wall Street anticipated a 0.1% decline in same-store sales. Customer transactions rose 2.1% in the quarter. The amount shoppers spent climbed to $90.71 per average ticket from $90.68 in the prior-year period. “Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as we saw continued customer engagement across smaller projects and in our spring events,” Home Depot Chair and CEO Ted Decker said in a statement. Home improvement retailers like Home Depot have been dealing with homeowners putting off bigger projects because of increased borrowing costs and lingering concerns about inflation. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied homes have dropped as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers. Existing home sales fell 5.9% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The March sales decline was the largest monthly drop since November 2022, and marks the slowest sales pace for the month of March going back to 2009. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. “One of the central […]

Qatari PM: Negotiations Stalled Because of Israel

Matzav -

Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani placed the blame squarely on Israel for the collapse of the latest ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, speaking candidly during an appearance at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday. He described a deep disconnect between the two sides’ goals in the talks, which he said made compromise impossible.

“There is a fundamental gap between the two parties. One party is looking for a partial deal that might have the possibility to lead to a comprehensive deal, and the other party is looking for a one-off deal to end the war and to get all the hostages out,” the Prime Minister stated, “We couldn’t bridge this fundamental gap with whatever proposals we have provided given the past experiance of the first deal that collapsed.”

Al-Thani warned that Israel’s ongoing military escalation would further delay any hope of reaching a negotiated end to the war. He expressed concern that continued fighting would bring more casualties and suffering.

According to al-Thani, “We are stuck in a situation where if this (intensified Israeli military) operation begins, it is just going to postpone the diplomatic conclusion of the war, which will only end diplomatically, from our point of view. It will just cost us a death toll on the Palestinian side and on the hostages’ side.”

He sharply criticized Israel’s military actions across several fronts, accusing the country of destabilizing the region and making matters worse by increasing violence not only in Gaza, but also in Judea and Samaria, Lebanon, and Syria.

“The continuation of this campaign and this behavior, not only in Gaza, but in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), Lebanon, and Syria, is becoming unbearable.” The Qatari Prime Minister claimed that such actions will only “fuel the narrative of extremism and terrorism.”

In response to al-Thani’s comments, officials in Yerushalayim are reportedly weighing whether to pull their main negotiation team out of Doha, possibly as soon as today. Instead of fully cutting ties, Israel is expected to keep a small, lower-level group in place to monitor the situation and remain informed of any new developments.

{Matzav.com}

TRAGEDY: R’ Lipa Tomlin Z”L Of Manchester, UK, Niftar In Accident During Vacation In Cyprus

Yeshiva World News -

Manchester, England’s Jewish community was thrust into mourning as news spread of the sudden and tragic death of Lipa Tomlin z”l, a well-known musician and father of four. R’ Lipa was niftar after falling from a height while on vacation in Cyprus with his wife and a relative. The incident occurred just days after the niftar celebrated his 37th birthday. Tomlin was widely known and deeply admired within the frum kehilla in Manchester and beyond. A talented performer, he brought joy to countless weddings and simchas through his heartfelt music and uplifting presence. “He was a gifted artist who used his talent to uplift and inspire,” a heartbroken friend recalled. “He had a unique ability to touch people’s hearts with his voice and his soul.” Askanim are working on extraditing the meis from Cyprus for a levaya and kevurah. Baruch Dayan HaEmes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Segulah for Longevity (Mishefa Mitzvas Tefillin…. Chaim Aruchim…)

Matzav -

[COMMUNICATED]

רצועות – STRAPS OF TEFILIN ARE תשמישי קדושה זהירות שלא לגרור רצועות התפילין על הארץ ובפרט בשעת הנחתן וסילוקן

THEY HAVE SANCTITY – AND MAY NOT BE LEFT TO TOUCH OR BE DRAGGED ON THE FLOOR !! THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN A CHUMASH OR SIDDUR.

הנהגות מהחזו״א זצוק״ל ע״י הגר״ח קניבסקי זצוק״ל ״הי׳ מדקדק בשעת כריכת התפילין שלא תגרר הרצועה על הארץ״

(footnote from Rav Chaim Kanevsky zt”l) ״וע׳ משנ״ב סי׳ כ״א סקי״ח גבי ציצית דהוי ביזוי מצוה, וכ״ש כאן שהן תשמישי קדושה״ The Chazon Ish was extremely careful when donning Tefilin that the straps should not drag on the floor”

ובדינים והנהגות מבואר (או״ח פ״ג אות י״א), שאף לאחרים הזהיר להימנע מכך״, וכן הורה רבנו (דעת נוטה ח״ג תשובה י״ד) והעידו (אורחות רבנו ח״א עמ׳ מד) ״שהי׳ פעם שהתפלל בישיבת בית יוסף והי׳ בחור אחד בקצה ביהמ״ד שנגעו רצועות התפילין שלו בארץ, ורץ אליו החזו״א ממקומו בקצה השני של ביהמ״ד להעיר לו על כך״.

“The Chazon Ish was mindful to call people’s attention to this. On occasion he once davened in a Yeshiva and noticed a student at the far end of the Bais Hamedrash whose Tefilin straps were touching the floor. He ran from where he was standing to that student to call his attention to this impropriety.”

Iran-Backed Plot Near Defense Minister’s Home Foiled

Matzav -

Israeli authorities have apprehended two individuals accused of placing surveillance equipment around the residence of Defense Minister Yisroel Katz and of moving a bag believed to contain an explosive.

The suspects, Roy Mizrahi and Almog Atias, both 24 years old and residents of the northern Israeli city of Nesher, were taken into custody over allegations that they were conducting reconnaissance operations in Kfar Ahim, the hometown of Minister Katz, as part of a broader security breach investigation.

According to findings from the joint investigation by the Shin Bet and Israeli Police, Roy Mizrahi maintained communications with operatives tied to Iranian terror networks over the past several months. He allegedly carried out various missions for them, some with the help of his associate Almog Atias, in exchange for payment. Authorities emphasized that both men were fully aware they were acting under Iranian direction and that their conduct could compromise Israel’s national security.

Investigators revealed that Roy had been instructed by his Iranian contacts to carry out multiple assignments. Among them was the purchase of a new mobile phone and the installation of a special communication app to remain in touch. At a later stage, he was directed to retrieve a buried bag—believed to contain an explosive device—and relocate it. He complied with this request and transported the bag as instructed.

The Northern District Prosecutor’s Office is preparing to file formal charges against the pair in the near future.

A security official noted: “This case joins a series of recent incidents indicating repeated and ongoing efforts by hostile terror and intelligence entities to recruit Israeli citizens to carry out tasks aimed at harming the security of the State of Israel and its residents.”

The statement continued: “The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police reiterate their warning to Israeli citizens and residents against engaging with foreign entities and performing tasks for them. Such actions constitute serious legal offenses and endanger national security. All security and law enforcement agencies will act decisively to enforce the law against those involved in such activities.”

Defense Minister Katz responded to the news with praise for Israel’s security forces: “I commend the Shin Bet and Israel Police for thwarting the Iranian attempt to target me as Israel’s Defense Minister. Iran is the head of the terror octopus, directly and through the terror organizations it supports, promoting terrorist activities against Israeli leaders and citizens.

“My heart and concern are primarily with the hostages held vulnerable and defenseless in Hamas tunnels and with Israeli citizens exposed to Iran’s threats both domestically and abroad. I will not be deterred by any threat and will continue to fulfill my commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to sever the head of the Iranian terror octopus and its proxy terror arms. I will continue to lead with determination in the fight for Israel’s security.”

{Matzav.com}

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