Apple Tests Background Security Updates in iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3

[MacRumors]

Apple is testing a Background Security Improvement feature that first rolled out in iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS Tahoe 26.1. Developers and public beta testers who are running iOS 26.3, iPadOS 26.3, or macOS Tahoe 26.3 can install a new Background Security Improvement update for testing purposes.

According to Apple, Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries.

Background Security Improvements can be installed by going to the Privacy and Security section of the Settings app, scrolling down, and selecting the "Install" option. If Automatically Install is toggled on, Background Security Improvements will be automatically installed when they come out.

Apple says that users who opt not to install the Background Security Improvements will receive the updates in a standard software update.

Apple previously had a Rapid Security Response update feature for delivering security improvements, but it wasn't used often after it was introduced in iOS 16, and was ultimately phased out in favor of Background Security Improvements. At one point in 2023, there was a Rapid Security Response bug that prevented some websites from displaying properly.

Apple warns that Background Security Updates can result in "rare instances of compatibility issues." Should that occur, the updates may be temporarily removed and enhanced in a subsequent software update.

Article Link: Apple Tests Background Security Updates in iOS 26.3 and macOS Tahoe 26.3

 

[nortonandreev]

I don’t know why they’re still investing in this. They had it once and never used it.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I don’t know why they’re still investing in this. They had it once and never used it.

Well they did use it twice and managed to break Facebook. Which I personally would love to see them do again, but I think it scared them off.

There are some rare instances it could be useful.

 

[yeah]

So uh where is 26.3 beta 2?

 

[HouseLannister]

Would be nice if they put it in 18.7.2 so people could patch WebKit without being forced to take Liquid Glass along with it.

 

[Hank001]

So, basically, it's the same feature with a new name?

 

[podycust]

If I recall correctly the bug wasn’t really in the rapid security update it was with website handling of user agents as that update induced an (a) into user agent string they didn’t handle correctly

 

[Biro]

So, basically, it's the same feature with a new name?

That’s what it sounds like, doesn’t it?

 

[Hajj.david]

It’s not meant to be for major fixes.

Yes it is and by fixes I mean emergency patches. They arent going to use this for anything other than a major critical security issue.

 

[wellander1]

Would be nice if they put it in 18.7.2 so people could patch WebKit without being forced to take Liquid Glass along with it.

And 18.7.3.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

According to Apple, Background Security Improvements provide additional security protections between software updates for Safari, WebKit, and other system libraries.

Why not just decouple updates for Safari, WebKit, and other libraries from the OS? That way they can be updated frequently and as needed independently of the system.

 

[Ursadorable]

Now if they could just nail auto-updates.

Despite being turned on, I've never had the auto-update feature work. I've always had to do it manually.

 

[bollman]

Let us hope they throughly redesigned it from the RSRs:

macOS’ Rapid Security Response: Designed into a Corner

With macOS 13.3.1 dropping a few weeks ago, some people have been wondering what happened to Apple’s featured “Rapid Security Response” system they showed off back at WWDC 2022? For some reason, Apple keeps shipping their usual slow, bulky security updates as opposed to the new small and “rapid”...

khronokernel.com

 

[d.richter]

Build number iOS 26.3 (a) (23D770890b)

 

[platinumaqua]

I wonder what's so hard (really asking, not being angry). Max OS X used to get "Security Update 200x-00y" updates all the time

 

[platinumaqua]

Why not just decouple updates for Safari, WebKit, and other libraries from the OS? That way they can be updated frequently and as needed independently of the system.

Mac OS is already doing that, yet they still follow the Mac OS support cycles (no more WebKit/Safari updates after 2 years)

 

[mxrider88]

So they warn you, we might screw up as we often do nowadays, but we can remove the patch and get it better before we patch the OS again. WOW. Profound

 

[tywebb13]

Build number iOS 26.3 (a) (23D770890b)

same for the iPadOS 26.3 (a)

and the macOS 26.3 (a) one is 25D770870b

 

[svish]

Good to see this. I would use this as I generally don't want to install a new version of the software as soon as it is released but want to be protected from any security issues.