APPLE has released an important security update and has urged all iPhone owners to install it now.

Earlier this week, the tech giant released a new iOS update for iPhones and iPads: iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.

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“This update provides important bug fixes and security updates and is recommended for all users,” Apple said.

Regarding the iPhone, the updates have been released for the iPhone XS and later.

iPads that could get the update include the “iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later,” Apple said.

WHY DO I NEED TO UPDATE?

Updating your operating system ensures that your device has access to the latest security measures available.

“Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain the security of your Apple product,” Apple says on its website.

Security updates actually patch several vulnerabilities, saving you the need to spend money on antivirus software, experts say.

Conversely, if you don’t update, your iPhone is more susceptible to malware and bugs.

HOW TO UPDATE YOUR IOS

To manually update your iPhone, first go to Settings and then tap General.

Select Software Update and you should see if there is an update available for your device.

If you see an update, tap Update Now or Update Tonight.

If you choose to update tonight, the installation will only start when the device is locked and the battery has sufficient power.

It’s always best to set updates to automatic, so make sure you enable that option at the top as well.

To update your macOS, open the Apple menu > System Preferences > click Software Update.

If Software Update finds a new update, click the button to install it.

The process for updating iPadOS is similar: go to Settings > General > Software Update.

The screen will show which version of iPadOS is currently installed and whether an update is available.

THE LATEST VERSIONS

To make your life easier, we have shared the latest updates for all Apple products below.

The latest version of iOS and iPadOS is 17.4.1.

The latest version of macOS is 14.4.

The latest version of tvOS is 17.4.

The latest version of watchOS is 10.4.

The latest version of visionOS is 1.1.1.

TWO free TV channels have landed on a popular streaming app available through millions of Amazon Fire Sticks.

Amazon Freevee already has many channels that you can watch for free.

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It’s one of many alternatives to Netflix and even Amazon’s own Prime Video in an effort to help people reduce costs, especially during the cost of living crisis.

But this week Freevee is getting two extra channels.

A+E Networks – the company behind channels such as Blaze, Crime & Investigation and Sky History – has also launched them at no extra cost on other platforms, including Virgin Media and Samsung TV Plus.

The company already operates a number of free internet channels you may be familiar with, including Inside Crime, Mystery TV and World War TV.

The latest additions include Deal Masters, aimed at anyone interested in shows about making extra money.

Hardcore Pawn, Dickinson’s Real Deal and Flipping Bangers top the bill.

The other new station is called History Hunters.

It features programs including Sir Tony Robinson, Professor Alice Roberts, Dan Jones and Al Murray.

Here are some of the shows you can expect:

• River Hunters
• Digging to Britain
• Treasure hunter of shipwrecks
• Al Murray: Why does everyone hate the English?
• Walking through history

The move comes amid a massive explosion of so-called ‘FAST’ channels, which stands for Free Ad-Supported Streamed TV.

In recent years, big names such as Sky and UKTV have launched FAST channels to increase their reach.

“A+E Networks EMEA’s partnerships with leading platforms provide a powerful opportunity to distribute our premium content to new and existing audiences,” said Julie Mitchelmore, VP Digital at A+E Networks EMEA

“Thanks to the hard work of a team of passionate experts, our new FAST channels will complement our existing channels: Inside Crime, Mystery TV and World War TV.”

What else can I watch on Amazon Freevee?

There are currently a number of themed channels available to watch on Amazon Freevee.

Here are some to look out for:

• Within crime
• Judy Justice
• The kitchen of hell
• The bad tuna channel
• Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court
• True Crime Britain
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
• Voltron: Defender of the universe
• The Real Housewives
• Ghost Hunters Chanel
• Houses under the hammer
• Xena: Warrior Princess
• The bionic woman
• Curious
• British TV play heroes
• Talk TV
• MythBusters
• Deal or no deal
• Cheaters
• The world’s wildest police videos
• Great British menu
• True crime
• Fifth gear
• The Addams Family
• Baywatch
• UKTV discovered
• So real
• Bridezillas
• British TV Play full throttle
• Pink Panther
• Neighbors

HOME security gadgets like Ring doorbells are increasingly being targeted by cybercriminals and their nasty phishing campaigns.

Cybersecurity experts at Trustwave have warned Ring customers – and owners of similar gadgets from other brands – that home security technology is being used against the people it is supposed to protect.

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“Scams are so common these days that the scope for email fraud to be both broad and granular has changed,” Ed Williams of Trustwave told The Sun.

“Add to that the flexibility and sheer power of generative AI and it becomes likely that a phishing attack or scam will be successful.”

Breaking into the gadgets themselves is difficult, so hackers have resorted to web-based attacks against home security owners.

Users should assume that every email is malicious. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.

Ed Williams, Vice President of Pen Testing EMEA Trustwave

Phishing emails are used to extract sensitive information from customers.

Unreliable emails also warn innocent recipients of impending suspension of their Ring account, citing outdated membership information.

It’s this kind of false urgency that tricks people into giving away important information, which can put their accounts (and gadgets) at risk.

These phishing messages often contain a file attachment that contains a malicious link.

When they click, recipients are redirected to a fake Ring login page designed to illegally collect sensitive information.

This information includes your email address, password, social security number or social security number, and even your credit card information.

“Users should assume that every email is malicious. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Williams added.

“If people think they’ve been affected, it’s best to talk to Ring immediately to see if it was a scam or not.

“If so, speak to the police as they will be best placed to advise on what to do next.”

The Sun has contacted Ring for comment.

SAMSUNG TV owners will find a brand new free channel in just a few days.

And it is exclusive to Samsung devices.

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The tech giant’s growing streamed TV offering has added a new channel dedicated to music.

It’s called Staccs TV and until now the channel was only available in Scandinavia.

But from April 24, Brits will find it on Samsung TV Plus, available on Samsung smart TVs and the app for Samsung smartphones.

The company says it will show high-quality music videos, concert clips, exclusive recordings, music documentaries and more 24 hours a day.

There are also new, original programs such as Heavy Metal HeyDaze, a brand new show on Thursday evenings that takes viewers into rock ‘n’ roll.

Former MTV host Vanessa Warwick will host the show.

Staccs TV says it has plans to add another three channels to the platform in the future.

The UK is the company’s first major expansion outside the Nordic countries and will be followed by Spain and Italy in June this year.

“We are pleased to bring Staccs TV to music lovers in the UK,” said Robert Kviby, CEO of Staccs.

“We always wanted to bring our unique video services to the British audience, who live and breathe music like nowhere else.”

The launch comes just days after Samsung TVs got a new channel focusing on all things royal.

If you’re a music lover but don’t own a Samsung TV, fear not, because LG recently got its own channel full of melodies.

Free channels you miss on Samsung

There are loads of free channels available on Samsung TV Plus, ranging from big names like Sky and UKTV to theme channels.

Here are some notable stations to check out:

• Entertainment Hub – 4001
• Crime Network – 4002
• Rakuten TV Comedy Movies – 4004
• UKTV Playing Heroes – 4007
• Graham Norton Canal – 4100
• UKTV Play Laughs – 4103
• America’s Got Talent – 4106
• American Idol – 4107
• Houses under the hammer – 4109
• Come dine with me – 4110
• Sky Mix – 4155
• Baywatch – 4160
• UKTV Play Exposed – 4202
• UKTV Play full throttle – 4204
• 5 agents – 4210
• FIFA+ – 4506
• POP-4612
• NOW 80’s – 4717

UNLOCKING free channels, shows and movies on your Amazon Fire TV device takes just a few seconds.

There are two apps you can download to access a huge library of content without having to pay a dime.

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The only catch is that you are willing to watch ads, but you will save money if you can watch the ads.

Free TV App #1 – Plex TV

First up is Plex, which started as a way to create a kind of “personal Netflix” by letting you stream your own saved media to a screen of your choice.

But in 2019, Plex added a library of free content, supported by ads.

Plex now offers over 600 live TV channels, all of which are completely free.

And you also have on-demand access to a wealth of more than 50,000 movies and TV shows.

Plex has a score of 4/5 on Amazon’s app store based on over 210,000 reviews.

Of those, 59% were five-star reviews, while another 13% were four-star reviews.

One reviewer gave it five stars and wrote: “I love the live streaming this channel offers. Great for the whole family.

“We watch most of our movies and TV shows through the live streaming apps. Great for the wallet.”

Free TV App #2 – Pluto TV

Another extremely popular option is Pluto TV.

More than 80 million people use the app every month, making it a top-tier free TV app.

Pluto TV offers over 250 live TV channels across a range of genres.

And the app also promises thousands of movies and TV shows on demand.

There are no upfront costs or subscription fees; only free TV, financed by advertising.

Cord cutters rejoice! Your app is here!

Amazon reviewer

The app has a rating of 4.2/5 on Amazon’s app store, based on more than 780,000 user reviews.

And 66% of those reviews included five-star ratings, while another 13% handed out four stars.

One reviewer wrote: “Cord cutters rejoice! Your app is here!”

They continued: “This is one of the best apps available on the Fire TV in my opinion. If you have a Fire TV or even a phone, tablet, or computer, you owe it to yourself to at least try this.

“You’ll enjoy it for many, many hours. Well done, Pluto TV!”

CHANNEL SWITCH!

There are plenty of other ways to grab some free TV content.

Here are some free apps that work on an Amazon Fire TV Stick:

• Amazon Freevee
• Tubi
• Sling Freestream (via Sling TV app)
• The Roku Channel
• FilmRise
• Local now

Downloading a few can help you save on your streaming bills.

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A little-known streaming service full of free TV shows and movies has gotten a big boost in its offerings.

Rakuten TV has signed a new agreement with A+E Networks, the company behind channels such as Blaze, Crime & Investigation and Sky History.

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This means that a new channel called Deal Masters will be launched on the streaming app, with shows about making extra money.

Hardcore Pawn and Flipping Bangers are among the shows coming, with about 40 series new to free streaming.

Another new station is History Hunters with historians and celebrities including Sir Tony Robinson, Professor Alice Roberts, Dan Jones and Al Murray.

A third offering is the RTV Biography Channel.

The station hosts real-life stories about fascinating people and celebrities, with documentaries on Robin Williams, Elvis Presley, The Krays, Muhammad Ali, Jennifer Aniston, Megan Markle, Tina Turner, Seve Ballesteros, Dua Lipa and Tom Cruise.

Rakuten TV is already available to millions of Brits as a free smart TV app and via Amazon Fire TV Sticks.

Remember that if you watch live streamed TV channels you will still need a TV license or you could be fined up to £1000.

But there are hundreds of on-demand shows and movies that aren’t live and don’t require a TV license to watch.

Free movies on the service include:

• Kidnapping
• Meet Dave
• Stay
• London robbery
• Riddick
• Noah
• Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
• All dogs go to heaven
• Once upon a time in London
• Love and other drugs

The move comes amid an explosion of so-called “FAST” channels, which stands for free ad-supported streaming TV.

Samsung and LG have already built a lot of their own devices into their TVs, with UKTV and Sky channels on them.

“We are very pleased to see top providers globally and locally investing further in FAST and we welcome these partnerships as it supports Rakuten TV’s continued growth in delivering locally relevant content to our audiences,” said Marcos Milanez, Chief Content Officer from Rakuten TV.

“Rakuten TV also remains committed to investing in its portfolio of owned and operated channels.”

IPHONE owners are excited about a little-known Apple Pay trick that could save your day in an emergency.

The smart feature can help you in two specific ways.

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First, you don’t need to unlock your account iPhone when using Apple Pay on certain public transport networks.

Apple has built something called Express Mode into iOS, which means you can use Apple Pay without Touch ID or Face ID in some situations.

It means you don’t have to struggle with unlocking your iPhone when using the London Underground or New York Underground, for example.

An Apple fan on Reddit wrote, “I’ve loved using Express Transit in San Francisco and New York. I go about twice a month.”

You can ensure that Express Mode is set to the correct card by going to your Apple Wallet settings.

DEAD GOOD!

But that is not everything.

Not only do you not need to unlock your iPhone, the battery may not even need to be charged.

“I recently accidentally discovered that it’s possible to still use your Transit card even if your phone breaks,” said one Reddit user in a thread about the feature.

“I was blown away, I already knew I could use it by essentially swiping the reader, but not this.”

Apple is more specific about how this actually works.

“You may even be able to use your card, pass, or key if your device needs to be charged,” Apple explains.

It continued: “With a compatible iPhone modelsthat you might be able to use current reserve with some cards, passes and keys that have Express Mode enabled for up to five hours when your iPhone needs to be charged.

“To see which cards, passes, and keys are available for use with power reserve, press the side or home button when your iPhone needs to charge.”

But there are two important things to note about this feature.

First, pressing the Side button or Home button can significantly reduce the power reserve on your iPhone.

Doing this enough may prevent the feature from working.

Secondly, if you manually turn off your iPhone, this feature will not work.

It is only available when your iPhone is visibly dead and put in backup mode.

You can throw away money every month on TV apps for your iPhone.

There are plenty of free alternatives that can help you unlock live TV channels, movies and shows.

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A top download you might miss is Tubi.

It is a completely free app with no subscription fees but a huge library of content.

The catch is that you have to watch ads, but that’s a small price to pay for free television.

Tubi says it has more than 250 live TV channels, but more are being added over time.

Channels coverage news, weathersports, entertainment and more.

But there is also a large catalog of on-demand movies and TV shows that you can watch anytime.

It is completely legal and available directly from the Apple App Store iPhone.

TELEPHONE FANS

iPhone owners rave about Tubi in their App Store reviews.

The app has a very high score of 4.8/5 based on more than 616,000 reviews.

“This app is incredible! I first saw it on Instagram when I was scrolling through my Stories and saw it in an ad,” wrote one lucky viewer.

“What attracted me was the fact that it had anime!”

“I’m enjoying this app. I can watch ‘A’ movies of a decent variety,” said another.

“There are commercials that you can’t skip, just like Pandora’s music app, except they’re longer, but it’s like watching things on TV stations or radio stations where you have commercials.”

And someone commented: “Great selections for every genre, to determine what you crave.

“Enjoy the old hits one more time and at the same time find new gems to watch with pleasure again and again!”

TV FREEBIES

There are plenty of other ways to watch free TV on your iPhone.

Some other great options include:

• Plex
• The Roku App (Roku Channel)
• Pluto TV
• Crackle
• Sling TV (Sling Freestream)
• Amazon Freevee

Free ad-supported streaming apps are a great way to lower your streaming bills.

If you download a few, you may be able to cancel some of your premium subscriptions and save some money every month.

PET owners paying record costs for vet treatment are lining the pockets of a billionaire known as the ‘baby-faced Assassin’.

Norwegian Christian Sinding heads the company that owns IVC Evidensia – Britain’s largest chain of veterinary practices and one of several companies to be hit in a row this week due to skyrocketing prices.

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As owners face increasingly unaffordable bills, IVC’s UK revenues have increased from £834 million in 2020 to £1.2 billion in 2022.

IVC Evidensia is the largest of six companies identified in a report published this week by the Competition and Markets Authority, which cited “several concerns” and announced a major investigation.

CMA chief Sarah Cardell noted that there were “incentives for large business groups to act in ways that could reduce competition and choice”.

And British animal lovers are paying the price.

Lisa Johnson, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, said she noticed big price increases after the practice she had used for 20 years was bought by IVC.

Seven billionaires

Mum-of-two Lisa, who runs a skincare company and is married to Paul, 50, has three rescue poodles, Dudley, Louis and Marshall, plus hamsters and guinea pigs.

She said: “After our mortgage and bills, half my income goes to vet bills.

‘Dudley, who is eight, had some dental work done three years ago before the takeover, involving anaesthesia, blood tests, cleaning and tooth removal, which amounted to £400.

“He now needs to have his teeth redone and I have been given a quote of around £600.

“Anything else and the bill will rise closer to £1,000.

“Consultation fees – literally popping in for a quick chat – have risen from £35 to £60.

“Last week I had to pay £88 for a five minute consultation for Louis’ bad back, which included some basic anti-inflammatories.

“We are struggling with energy bills and food prices. I feel like we are being taken advantage of because we are animal lovers and never want to compromise on their health.”

The six companies named in the CMA report – CVS, IVC, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets At Home and VetPartners – already own 2,869 of the UK’s 4,920 veterinary practices and are chasing a market worth more than £2 billion a year.

I feel like we are being taken advantage of because we are animal lovers and never want to compromise on their health

Lisa Johnson

Meanwhile, the number of local independent practices has fallen from 89 percent to just 45 percent in the eight years to 2021.

Of the six major players, IVC, which also operates in Europe, is by far the largest, with 1,018 practices in the UK, more than double the number owned by any other company.

The secretive Sinding, 51, whose nickname comes from a combination of his boyish looks and business skills, lives with his American wife and two children on Zurich’s Gold Coast, where properties sell for an average of £4 million to £6.5 million.

He has turned EQT – the Swedish private equity group that owns IVC Evidensia – into one of the fastest growing companies in the world, with around 300 companies employing around 700,000 people.

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In addition to his home in Zurich, where he has lived since 2013, Sinding has a seaside summer home in Fredrikstad, Oslo, where he owns two adjoining £2 million properties.

He recently sold a house in Bygdoy, Norway, for £3 million.

Sinding admits he ‘doesn’t like to talk’ about his vast wealth.

And his colleagues are not short of money either: EQT’s success has created seven billionaires.

There are no golf partners at EQT. So if you sit back, buy a house in Spain and start playing golf, you are no longer a partner here

Christian Sinding

But Sinding, who has little to do with the day-to-day management of IVC Evidensia, emphasizes: “There are no golf partners at EQT.

“So if you sit back, buy a house in Spain and start playing golf, you are no longer a partner here.”

His is one of many chains accused of buying up small, struggling veterinary practices and then raising prices while failing to fully inform customers about costs and alternative treatments.

Three of the six, including IVC, are owned by private equity firms, which tend to borrow to finance acquisitions and then force the company to pay back the interest.

Industry experts fear these costs will be passed on to pet owners in the form of higher treatment costs.

Average bills for Britain’s 17 million pet owners have risen by 24 percent in the five years to 2022.

‘Money grabbers’

Sue Davies, head of consumer protection at Which? said pet owners were often faced with ‘eye-watering’ bills.

One cat owner was quoted £188.96 for a constipation powder which he claimed cost a fraction of the over-the-counter price, plus £36.89 for a two-minute phone call.

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Veterinarian Alex Crow, from Nottingham, said: “Every week I hear about a local vet with a long experience being bought out by one of the big corporate chains.

“I’ve seen data where an office visit cost 15 percent more in a corporate clinic compared to a small private clinic.”

The CMA report shows that some veterinary practices make around 25 per cent of their turnover from the sale of medicines, much of which can be bought cheaper elsewhere.

And it found that the lack of competition caused by the big chains puts customers at risk of overpaying.

Veterinarian Dr. Daisy May, from Liverpool, believes the loss of the veterinary practice will also have an impact on healthcare.

She said: “Independent vets are better able to tailor services and payments to individuals, an aspect that is crucial for pet health.”

The major chains are seeing their profits rise.

Independent veterinarians are better able to tailor services and payments to individuals, an aspect that is critical to pet health

Doctor Daisy May

CVS posted a 50 per cent rise in pre-tax profits last year to £54m, with its three top executives pocketing a total of almost £4m, while boss Richard Fairman took home £1.7m.

Pets At Home made a pre-tax profit of £122 million last year and said its veterinary business, made up of Companion Care and Vets4Pets, was a “significant value creation opportunity”.

Medivet, which has 470 UK veterinary practices, was acquired in 2021 in a deal worth more than £1 billion by private equity firm CVC, while VetPartners, with 350 clinics, was bought by BC Partners in 2018 for £720 million.

Dr. Anna Judson, chair of the British Veterinary Association, stressed that vets are not ‘money grabbers’.

She said: “Fees have increased due to factors such as rising inflation, labor shortages and medical advances.

“Practices must charge appropriately for services to ensure they remain financially sustainable.”

A spokesperson for IVC Evidensia said earlier this evening: “We have always strived to ensure that our prices are appropriate, fair and competitive and that we inform customers before any costs are incurred for any treatment.”

EQT declined to comment on Mr Sinding’s wealth and property portfolio.