Apple to Prevent iTunes Payment Info Changes on Very Old Versions of iOS, OS X, and Apple TV Software

[MacRumors]

Apple has announced that, starting June 30, customers will no longer be able to change their iTunes or App Store payment information from devices running iOS 4.3.5 or earlier, OS X 10.8.5 or earlier, or Apple TV Software 4.4.4 or earlier.

In an email to customers who may be impacted, Apple said it is implementing this change to continue to ensure that their financial information is protected when they make purchases on the iTunes Store or App Store. For emphasis, this appears to be a proactive move, not the result of a security breach.

Given how old the affected software versions are, relatively few customers should be impacted by this move. iOS 4.3.5 and Apple TV Software 4.4.4 were both released in 2011, while macOS 10.8.5 was seeded in September 2013 as the final update to what was then called OS X Mountain Lion.

If you're using one of these versions on your device and need to change your payment method, Apple says to update your device to the latest version of the software. Of course, this may not be possible on older devices that have been phased out, in which case a newer device with newer software must be used.

The full email to customers courtesy of MacRumors reader Rich:

On June 30, 2018, Apple will implement changes to continue to ensure your financial data is protected when you make purchases on the iTunes Store or App Store.

Our records show that you may be accessing the store from an older version of iOS, macOS, or Apple TV software:

- iOS 4.3.5 or earlier
- macOS 10.8.5 or earlier
- Apple TV Software 4.4.4 or earlier

To be able to change your payment information with devices running the software listed above, you'll need to update to a more recent software version.

The email was also shared on Reddit.

Apple provides more details, instructions on how to update to the latest version of iOS, macOS, and Apple TV software, and steps to change your payment method, in a support document related to this change.

Update: As noted by MacRumors forum member Cdbrawn, this change appears to be in line with the PCI-SSC's requirement that all businesses processing payments online must transition to TLS 1.1 encryption or better by June 30, 2018. The affected iOS, OS X, and Apple TV software versions use TLS 1.0.

Article Link: Apple to Prevent iTunes Payment Info Changes on Very Old Versions of iOS, OS X, and Apple TV Software

 

[tbobmccoy]

Well, I’m glad I don’t use my MacBook late 2006 model anymore. A bit frustrating to do this, I have to admit.

 

[Superhappytree]

I miss those icons, especially that iTunes one. So preferred the design of everything Apple back then, even the hardware.

 

[Xavier]

Why not just support all software forever? /s

 

[vicviper789]

I have an iphone4S on ios5 still. The end is coming..

 

[now i see it]

Gotta love that ecosystem/forced obsolescence

 

[JosephAW]

Well at least you can still use your web browser on those old devices. Right?

I'm glad Apple doesn't make a car, or they would issue a statement like, for those if you who purchased the Apple Car 1.0 you will no longer be able to change your Apple Car ID account after January 1, 2020, please purchase a new car and recycling your existing one. Have a nice day.
[doublepost=1530191323][/doublepost]

I have an iphone4S on ios5 still. The end is coming..

You can still upgrade to iOS 8 on your 4S. I did that with mine.

 

[Morris]

Why not just support all software forever?

My guess is that they are ramping up the Transport Layer Security (TLS) for communicating with the payment data backend and require stronger encryption. If older versions don't support the required cyphers they won't be able to connect.

The problem is that this sort of stuff is as strong as the weakest link. If you allow weaker encryption for older devices it would reduce security for everyone because attackers can use downgrade attacks by pretending to be an old device. Spending a lot of effort on fixing old software for what is likely a fairly small group of people will not be worth it.

 

[Cdbrawn]

Stop the conspiracy theory whining. All companies must stop using TLS 1.0 by June 30 to meet PCI-DSS standards.

These will be the TLS 1.0 OS versions.

Apple are doing what all the large card processors are doing.

 

[CaTOAGU]

Stop the conspiracy theory whining. All companies must stop using TLS 1.0 by June 30 to meet PCI-DSS standards.

These will be the TLS 1.0 OS versions.

Apple are doing what all the large card processors are doing.

Was going to say the same. There's going to be a lot of older devices from many vendors that are obsoleted by this.

 

[Christoffee]

I have an iphone4S on ios5 still. The end is coming..

I’ll swap you for my 4S on iOS9.

 

[zorinlynx]

Can you not just download a modern web browser that still runs on those operating systems (like Chrome or Firefox) and just update the payment info on the website?

 

[Feyl]

I miss those icons, especially that iTunes one. So preferred the design of everything Apple back then, even the hardware.

Me too! You can really see the work behind those in comparison with what we have now.

 

[chrono1081]

Gotta love that ecosystem/forced obsolescence

It's not forced obsolesce. You guys want less bloat in new versions of iTunes, then you gotta stop support of legacy versions of it. This is 100% the norm in software development. You can't have backwards compatibility forever.

 

[MacBH928]

who is still running ios 4 and for what reason?
I have a hardtime believing the hardware itself is still functioning

 

[luvbug]

Gotta love that ecosystem/forced obsolescence

And people wonder why the Internet is so fully of misinformation ....

 

[lunarworks]

Can you not just download a modern web browser that still runs on those operating systems (like Chrome or Firefox) and just update the payment info on the website?

Yes, but why do that when you can just go online and get angry at Tim Cook?

 

[MBAir2010]

What does this mean? My macmini running elcapitan cannot buy anything with iTunes or Apple store apps?
What about free apps or past purchases?
Good

Their is another thread about this topic with only 4 replies, can the powers combines thems, pleeeeease?
[doublepost=1530194950][/doublepost]

who is still running ios 4 and for what reason?
I have a hardtime believing the hardware itself is still functioning

Me
So I can listen to music clear downstairs on the Bose and itouch
[doublepost=1530194999][/doublepost]

And people wonder why the Internet is so fully of misinformation ....

And fresh boobies!

 

[WhiteHawk]

I got the email and don’t use these old OS’s, I’m all up to date.

 

[MBAir2010]

I got the email and don’t use these old OS’s, I’m all up to date.

Whew, I was very worried.......

 

[Klososky]

Doesn't this affect second gen Apple TVs? I also got the email and I figured it was relating to either that or my iMac G4 I use as a music server of sorts.

 

[SnarkyBear]

Can you not just download a modern web browser that still runs on those operating systems (like Chrome or Firefox) and just update the payment info on the website?

Not really. I have an old (white plastic) MacBook with Snow Leopard and Windows XP on it that I use for playing some REALLY OLD GAMES. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Explorer all have to run older, obsolete versions, as those companies have stopped supporting such old OS's.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Stop the conspiracy theory whining. All companies must stop using TLS 1.0 by June 30 to meet PCI-DSS standards.

These will be the TLS 1.0 OS versions.

Apple are doing what all the large card processors are doing.

I wasn't aware of this, thank you for sharing. I've updated the article.

 

[MBAir2010]

Stop the conspiracy theory whining. All companies must stop using TLS 1.0 by June 30 to meet PCI-DSS standards.

These will be the TLS 1.0 OS versions.

Apple are doing what all the large card processors are doing.

Please infiltrate apple’s email mainframe and reword their outgoing emails for us in the future then.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

What does this mean? My macmini running elcapitan cannot buy anything with iTunes or Apple store apps?
What about free apps or past purchases?

You're fine. El Capitan is OS X 10.11. This applies to OS X 10.8.5 or earlier.

And yes, if you were running OS X 10.8.5 or earlier, you would not be able to "purchase" anything, even for $0.00 (Apple considers free apps to be "purchases," even though no money changes hands.)

In the case of Mac Mini, this would affect the Mid-2007 and older models. Every Mini built since then can run at least El Capitan.