All iPhone users urged to ‘update their devices now’ after major security breach
APPLE has warned millions of iPhone users to update their devices immediately after a security breach saw hackers take control.
The industry giant issued emergency security updates after they were targeted by "extremely sophisticated" attacks.
The company warned: "A physical attack may disable USB Restricted Mode on a locked device.
"Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals."
Apple urged users to update as hackers could be able to gain "full admin access".
This would allow the cyber criminals to run any software in the device owner's name.
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The fault came after the USB Restricted Mode security feature failed.
This usually blocks third-party software from accessing Apple devices after they have been locked for more than an hour.
It has been installed on gadgets since iOS 11.4.1 was launched nearly seven years ago.
The tech gadgets affected in this security breach include the iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation and later, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 7th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later.
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At present there have been no confirmed reports of hackers gaining admin access in any specific cases.
USB Restricted Mode was created after a firm called Grayshift rolled out a software called GrayKey.
Grayshift is operated by US intelligence agency contractors and an ex-Apple security engineer.
It allowed any iPhone to be unlocked, and worked by connecting to the device via a USB cable.
Within a few days, or sometimes hours, a black screen would appear revealed the phone's password.
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