NEW YORK (AP) — Apple regularly releases updates to the software that powers iPhones, and it can sometimes be difficult to install them. But that’s not the latest case of it – an upgrade Apple released on Wednesday to close a security hole that could allow hackers to take control of iPhones and several other popular Apple products.
Security experts are warning that everyone with an iPhone should install the update as soon as possible to protect all the personal information that many people store on one device that has become an extra for many people.
Without the latest updates, hackers could gain full control of Apple devices, allowing intruders to impersonate the real owners and run any software under their name.
The company has also released fixes to block security threats on iPads and Macs. According to the company, the vulnerability could have been “actively exploited”, which the company had to fix other security issues earlier this year.
HOW TO FIX THIS?
Good news? There is an easy fix: you should be able to find it easily. Start with the Settings app, which has an icon that looks like the gears in an old watch. Go to the “General” section, then “Software Updates”. The page you view will give simple instructions or if your device is up to date there will be a notification about it.
According to security experts, the whole process usually takes only a few minutes. .
WHY IS UPDATED YOUR APPLE DEVICE EMERGENCY?
Commercial spyware companies like Israel’s NSO Corporation are known for identifying and leveraging such vulnerabilities, exploiting them in malware to surreptitiously infect target smartphones. targets, suck their content, and monitor targets in real time. That’s a risk best avoided.
WHY DOES MY APPLE DEVICE NOT DO THIS FOR ME?
Apple devices are set to update automatically by default, but it can take some time before they start updating. Updates also usually don’t trigger unless it can be done, and it usually doesn’t happen unless the iPhone is plugged into a power outlet at the time. It’s faster to check for the latest updates and do it manually.
Does this mean that the APPLE is NOT doing a good job of protecting its users?
No. The reality is that hackers are constantly looking for ways to gain unauthorized access to phones, tablets, computers and other internet-connected devices for a variety of malicious and illegal purposes. Apple products tend to be prime targets because they’re popular, making them attractive targets.
“Apple is no different than any other company,” said Jamie Collier, senior threat intelligence adviser at cybersecurity firm Mandiant and associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Security and Defense Studies. technology in that they are constantly dealing with security holes. “This is really a function of the fact that they are innovating. They are constantly evolving, they are constantly improving their services, improving their technology, improving their software. That means they are constantly rolling out new things.”
WHAT APPLE DEVICES IS AFFECTED?
Affected devices include iPhone6S and later; some iPad models, including 5th generation and later, all iPad Pro and iPad Air 2 models; and Mac computers running MacOS Monterey. This vulnerability also affects some iPod models.
HOW TO UPDATE IPADS AND MAC?
You can update your iPad using the same process outlined above: go to “Settings,” click “General,” and click “Software Update.” On a Mac, go to “System Preferences,” then “Software Update.”
WHAT IS THE RISK THAT MY PHONE IS CORRUPTED?
Unless you are a journalist, dissident or human rights activist, the chances are extremely low. The types of spyware created to exploit these types of vulnerabilities are very expensive and are often targeted for attacks.
“If you keep your system up to date, you should be perfectly fine,” says Collier. “Typically, when vulnerabilities in phones and iPhones, for example, are exploited, they tend to be fairly targeted at a small group of individuals. So we’re unlikely to see anything really popular at this stage.”
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Liedtke reports from Berkeley, California. Boston-based AP business writer Frank Bajak and AP cinematographer Terry Chea contributed to this report.
