- Apple has encouraged users to update their iOS devices as soon as possible
- This will protect your iPhone from web attacks and vulnerabilities
- Devices running iOS 15 to iOS 26 are already protected
Apple has issued a rare public warning saying that if you’re running an old version of iOS, you should update your device to “protect your iPhone from web attacks.”
The announcement has been published in a new security document on Apple’s website. While the company often releases security updates and patches to keep customers’ devices safe, it’s unusual for Apple to issue a public call like this, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.
In the support document, Apple said that “Security researchers have recently identified web-based attacks that target outdated versions of iOS through malicious web content. For example, if you are using an older version of iOS and were to click on a malicious link or visit a compromised website, the data on your iPhone could be at risk of being stolen.”
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It comes shortly after Google released details of an iOS exploit it had discovered called DarkSword, which is being used by both commercial spyware makers and state-sponsored hackers in the wild.
Regarding Apple’s warning, the company added that after being made aware of the hack, it “released software updates as soon as possible to the latest operating system versions to address vulnerabilities and disrupt such attacks.” This means that if your iPhone is running iOS 15 to iOS 26, you are already protected because Apple’s security updates have fixed the vulnerabilities in question.
However, if you have an older version of iOS on your device, you should update it as soon as possible to get the security patches and keep this exploit at bay.
How to protect yourself
Apple tried to reassure users of the latest iOS operating systems that “If you’ve kept your iPhone software up to date, you’re already protected.” In fact, it noted that “keeping your software up to date is the most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products.”
Because the exploit runs on the web, Safari’s Safe Browsing mode — which is enabled by default — blocks “the malicious URL domains identified in these attacks,” Apple said.
While all the top iPhones can update to iOS 26, much older products cannot. However, even if your iPhone is too outdated to run iOS 26, you may want to consider enabling Lockdown Mode (if available). While this limits what you can do on your iPhone, it offers strong protection that can keep it safe if you can’t install the latest iOS version. However, Apple warned that older devices should still be updated to newer operating system versions as soon as possible.
Apple also says it has released a patch for iOS 15 and iOS 16 that specifically addresses the vulnerability mentioned in the support document. Devices on iOS 13 or iOS 14, meanwhile, must be updated to iOS 15, Apple says, to be protected. The company added that devices on these operating system versions will also receive a warning to install a critical security update in the coming days.
To update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS, open the Settings app and navigate to General > Software Update. Wait for your iPhone to find the update, then tap Update Now. Your iPhone may restart a few times and the process may take some time. Also, be sure to back up your iPhone before you begin, just in case something goes wrong.
The situation highlights how important it is to keep your iPhone updated as often as you can. Software updates don’t just bring shiny new features – they can also help keep you safe and ensure that your vital information, from credit card numbers to your health data, stays out of the hands of hackers and criminals.
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