Update your iPhone NOW after Apple releases major security patch for bug under ‘active attack’
IPHONE owners are being urged to update their mobiles immediately in order to protect them from a critical security bug.
Apple says the download released to iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches fixes a critical vulnerability that may already be under attack by hackers.
Issues to Apple devices worldwide last week, the update comes in the form of iOS 14.4.2 on iPhone and iPadOS 14.4.2. WatchOS updates to 7.3.3.
In its patch notes, the California company acknowledged that the vulnerability may have been "actively exploited" by cyber crooks.
The bug was discovered by researchers at Google's Project Zero lab, which hunts for security vulnerabilities in consumer tech.
They found the problem in WebKit, a piece of software that powers the Safari browser across all Apple devices.
To protect your device, make sure it's updated to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS or WatchOS.
Most devices will have upgraded automatically, but it's worth making sure yours is up to date by checking your device's OS version.
If you're still using an older version of the OS, you can manually update by heading to Settings > General > Software Update.
Apple has provided a list of compatible devices:
- iPhone 6s and later
- iPad Pro (all models)
- iPad Air 2 and later
- iPad 5th generation and later
- iPad mini 4 and later
- iPod touch (7th generation)
- Apple Watch Series 3 and later
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
Apple and other phone makers regularly release security updates for the mobiles as new vulnerabilities surface.
Cyber crooks can use the software flaws to break into people's devices, in some cases gaining access to the camera or photo library.
To ensure your mobile is protected against such attacks, make sure your phone is set up to download updates automatically.
Your mobile will then take on patches overnight if it's connected to a charger.
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
In other news, Bill Gates has said he only uses Android phones because they make things "easier" for him.
Samsung has launched a "try before you buy" scheme for its most expensive mobiles to date.
And, Apple is rumoured to be working on a foldable phone to rival Samsung.
Are you a big Apple fan? Let us know in the comments...
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