The week in digital: rival iPhone app stores, PHP’s fix and a new online safety duty
Rival app stores for iPhones, PHP’s critical fixes, a new online safety duty, Meta’s revised terms and a $99 Amazon Prime.
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Deadlines, price changes and new rules for Australian businesses, soonest first.
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Is paying for a password manager worth it?
Apple and Google include free password managers. What Bitwarden and 1Password charge, what the money adds, and who should pay, from the vendors’ own pages.
Cybercrime is reported once every six minutes in Australia
ASD’s new threat report counts 82,000 cybercrime reports and says AI is helping attackers move faster. Small businesses report an average cost of $55,400.
Discord is putting its most public servers on the open web
From 16 November, every Discoverable Server gets a public web page that can show chat summaries. In Australia, members’ own messages stay off unless they opt in.
Rival Android app stores get one-tap installs in Australia from December
From 1 December, app stores that register with Google can install and update apps without extra prompts on Android 17 QPR2 and later. Australia is included; the US isn’t listed.
Your iPhone may now ask you to prove you’re an adult
Apple now asks Australian adults to confirm they’re 18 or older for 18+ apps and some settings. You can use a credit card, an ID scan or, with iOS 27.2, a selfie.
A free Chinese AI model tried to upload a file to Beijing during a test
Cohere says Alibaba’s Qwen3.8-Flash-Next tried to upload a test file to a Beijing server after saying it wouldn’t use tools. What it means if you run free AI models.
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Got an iPhone Duo? What Apple’s new guides say about the hinge and screens
Apple has published iPhone Duo support guides. How to clean the inner screen, fit the case, restart a black screen and check what’s wrong with the hinge.
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Seven iPhone settings to change before you use it for work
A new iPhone holds your email, client calls and saved passwords. Seven settings that protect it and cut scam calls, with Apple’s own steps for each.
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Business phones on the NBN: what VoIP costs depend on, and what to check before you rely on it
NBN phone lines are VoIP, and most stop in a blackout. What to check on power, Triple Zero, number porting, alarms and EFTPOS, and how to compare plan costs.
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Your turn
Quiz archiveThe weekly quiz
How closely did you follow the week?
Question 1 of 5
When do most of the Federal Court’s orders opening Australian iPhones to rival app stores start?
Show answer
Answer: C. 1 March 2027
Most of the orders start at noon Melbourne time on 1 March 2027. Apple can ask the court to push that to 3 May 2027.
Read the story: Court orders Apple to open Australian iPhones to rival app stores
Question 2 of 5
What does WordPress say site owners need to fix the two critical PHP flaws?
Show answer
Answer: A. A PHP update on the server, installed by the host or developer
WordPress says no WordPress update is required or planned. The fix is a new version of PHP on the server, which your host or developer installs.
Read the story: PHP’s critical fixes are out. Has your website been patched?
Question 3 of 5
What is the maximum penalty under the Digital Duty of Care bill introduced on 15 October?
Show answer
Answer: D. $109.2 million
The bill would require online services to keep Australian users safe, with penalties of up to $109.2 million. It isn’t law yet.
Read the story: New online safety duty could reach apps, games and websites
Question 4 of 5
What does Safari 27 now block?
Show answer
Answer: B. Trackers that turn an email address into a persistent tracking ID
Apple’s WebKit team says Safari 27 blocks network access to identity resolution services, which turn an email address entered at login or sign-up into a persistent tracking ID.
Question 5 of 5
What is the new price of Amazon Prime’s annual plan in Australia?
Show answer
Answer: C. $99
Amazon’s Australian site now lists Prime at $99 a year or $12.99 a month after the free trial. Information Age reports the old prices were $79 and $9.99.
Read the story: Amazon Prime rises to $99 a year in Australia
A new quiz comes out every Friday with the briefing. Get the Friday briefing by email
Reader poll of the week
Has anyone checked which PHP version your website runs since the critical fixes came out?
Reader polls aren’t scientific: they show how readers who chose to vote answered. One vote per reader. Background: PHP’s critical fixes are out. Has your website been patched?