9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

Let’s say you have screenshots of sensitive information sitting on your desktop that you’d like to password protect. You know that images of tax, banking, wire transfer forms, etc. in the clear can easily be viewed by anyone with physical or remote access to your machine, but you’re unsure how to secure them. Unfortunately, macOS Preview doesn’t support file-level password protection, but there are quick workarounds that don’t require third-party software or downloading anything not already on your Mac.

Update, December 30, 4:44 p.m. ET: (RED) has now confirmed that the $3 million donation cap was reached. Find new details below. 

(RED) confirmed today that Apple will donate $5 for every qualifying purchase made via Apple Pay through December 7. Here’s how you can contribute.

Earlier this year, Apple officially announced CarPlay Ultra, the next-generation version of CarPlay that it first teased way back at WWDC 2022.

CarPlay Ultra began rolling out in May to Aston Martin owners in the United States and Canada. What about other automakers? Here’s what we know.

Apple updated its entire lineup of Apple Watch models this year, introducing the Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Ultra 3. Here’s what you need to know about Apple Watch SE 3 vs Apple Watch Series 11.

Plus, you can currently save $100 on the Apple Watch Series 11.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Roborock: Save on Roborock’s flagship vacuums — but hurry, these deals won’t last long!

Apple’s Fitness app on iPhone started out as a companion to the Apple Watch’s Activity rings. But recently in iOS 26, Fitness expanded in several ways, including for users who don’t own an Apple Watch. Here are three recent changes that can help complement your new year’s goals.

A new TrendForce report outlines the challenges notebook makers are expected to face in 2026, with surging memory prices chief among them. Apple, however, is expected to be less exposed. Here are the details.

It’s not uncommon for new iPhone models to introduce issues for a small subset of users. With iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, it seems a number of users have encountered a strange speaker hiss when charging.

Benjamin and Chance return from the holiday break with some classic stories of tech support from the trenches. Also, iOS 26 Hold Assist proves better in theory than in reality based on listener feedback, and we do some Ask9to5Mac to close out 2025. 

And in Happy Hour Plus, Benjamin and Chance debate what should be 9to5Mac’s Product of the Year. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 

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Apple has been subject to a lot of criticism over its AI strategy, especially after it delayed several powerful Siri upgrades earlier this year. But a new report may help explain why, in part, Apple’s AI approach differs so much from competitors.

iOS 26 adds two brand new apps to your iPhone’s Home Screen, here’s how I’m using one of them: the Preview app.

The next major iPhone software update will be unveiled in less than six months, at WWDC in June. Here are seven new features rumored to be coming with iOS 27.

One of Apple TV’s best comedies, Shrinking, returns for season 3 very soon, and the newly released trailer shows a lot to look forward to.

The watch face is easily among Apple Watch’s most important features, and watchOS 26 offers big improvements to watch faces in three main ways. Here’s what’s new.

Optimizing and perfecting my Mac setup is one of my favorite things to do. I love my M4 MacBook Pro, and surrounding it with accessories that improve my productivity is key to my workflow. If you just unwrapped a new Mac, there are tons of ways to upgrade your experience even further.

In fact, almost all of these products are on my desk as I write this story.

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

In this episode of Apple @ Work, I discuss how I believe the world of Apple IT will evolve in 2026.

9to5Mac Security Bite is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Making Apple devices work-ready and enterprise-safe is all we do. Our unique integrated approach to management and security combines state-of-the-art Apple-specific security solutions for fully automated Hardening & Compliance, Next Generation EDR, AI-powered Zero Trust, and exclusive Privilege Management with the most powerful and modern Apple MDM on the market. The result is a totally automated Apple Unified Platform currently trusted by over 45,000 organizations to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

When Apple dropped App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompts in iOS 14.5 back in 2021, it was a watershed moment for user privacy within third-party applications. Nothing like it had existed prior. The initiative gave iPhone users control over whether their in-app data could be aggregated and shared with third parties for advertising or other purposes.

Still, today, I often find comments online from people who don’t really know what it does and find the wording very taboo. Like, why “Ask” the app? And is it still effective? Let’s briefly look at App Tracking Transparency in 2025…

The latest firmware update expands Matter compatibility to multiple Roomba models. Here are the details.

Ford has once again signaled its continued commitment to supporting CarPlay. Speaking at a conference this month, Ford CFO Sherry House confirmed that the company is “passionate” about giving drivers the option to use CarPlay alongside other in-car systems.

iOS 26 was a huge update for iPhone, not just because of Liquid Glass but also thanks to many new features across the OS. Here are three new iOS 26 features I’ve been especially loving on my iPhone.

Apple’s annual New Year Sale is back in Japan, bringing Apple Gift Cards worth up to ¥38,000 (roughly $255) and a free limited-edition AirTag on select iPhone purchases. Here are the details.

Apple is trying to overturn a ruling that found it overcharged millions of UK customers through App Store commissions. Here are the details.

Update December 29, 2025: Last chance! 9to5Mac readers can exclusively save 50% on CardPointers for holiday shopping. Plus, you’ll receive a $100 $200 Savings Card as a sign up bonus.

CardPointers is a powerful app for iPhone that helps you maximize your credit card points and rewards. The app has recently been updated to take full advantage of iOS 26, including a new Liquid Glass design, integration with new Apple Intelligence Foundation Models, and much more.

As 2025 comes to a close, I wanted to take a step back and look at the tech that I used and actually made a difference in my day-to-day. This is not going to be a list based solely on specs, but rather a personal rundown of the gear that I gravitated towards throughout the year because it was either very useful or just enjoyable to use. I wanted to shed some light on a few non-Apple products, but of course, I also chose my Apple product of the year at the very end. These are my favorite tech items of 2025!