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Apple Urges iPhone Users Running Outdated iOS Versions to Update Immediately

MacRumors said:


Apple today urged iPhone users who are running iOS 13 or iOS 14 to upgrade to iOS 15 to protect themselves from being hacked through malicious web content.

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In a support document, Apple highlights recent reports about hacking tools that are effective against older versions of iOS. Hackers are using iOS exploit kits known as "Coruna" and "DarkSword," which can take advantage of vulnerabilities in iOS 13 through iOS 17.2.1.

"If your iPhone doesn't have the latest software, update iOS to protect your data," Apple says.

Apple has patched the vulnerabilities as they have come to light over the last several months, so users who have already upgraded to the newest version of iOS available for their iPhone are protected from the malicious websites and links that are circulating right now. Users running updated versions of iOS 15 through iOS 26 are safe.

Apple released new iOS 15 and iOS 16 updates on March 11 to address the security issue, and Apple says that devices still on iOS 13 or iOS 14 need to upgrade to iOS 15 for protection from the hacking tool. iPhone users running an outdated version of iOS will get an additional alert to install a Critical Security Update in the next few days.

All iPhones with iOS 13 or iOS 14 can be upgraded to iOS 15, and there are no iPhones that have those two older updates as a final software version.

Apple also protects users via the Apple Safe Browsing feature in Safari, which is turned on by default. It blocks the malicious URL domains that have been identified in the attacks.

Users who are unable to update their devices can alternatively turn on Lockdown Mode, which will offer protection from the attacks on out-of-date software. Lockdown Mode is available in iOS 16 or later, and it works by blocking hacking vectors like images in Messages and malicious websites.

Lockdown Mode is designed for people who are at risk of a state sponsored attack, and it is not for the everyday iOS user. There is no evidence so far that the hacking tools have been used to target people in the U.S., but they have been used in Ukraine, China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Malaysia, and they are effective against anyone running an out-of-date older version of iOS.

Article Link: Apple Urges iPhone Users Running Outdated iOS Versions to Update Immediately
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It is always urgently necessary to update the operating system update because of security enhancements to anticipate vulnerability attacks. Negligence to do so results serious consequences as the attack occurrence news reported. On this digital network world era, keep protecting from any cyber threats is supremely needed!
 
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If it's the last supported OS for the phone I absolutely get it. iOS 4 ruined the iPhone 3G and iOS 26 ruined the SE. I've never seen phones run slower and they should never have enabled them. Those are my only experiences with the end of the line, but it has always seemed like Apple was forcing obsolescence through the OS. If it's not the last supported, or just a point point update, then people should absolutely be jumping on them. Security, though hugely intangible to must of us, seems worth it to me!

Other than that, it would be a pretty cool promotion if Apple offered a newer phone to such holdouts!
 
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axantas said:
There are complaints about manufacturers, not updating their phones after a couple of years. There are complaints about manufacturers, updating their old phones because there are security flaws in their old OS.

Conclusion:neither this nor that is ok for certain people. So: find your own way, do not complain about anything.
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So, no rights to complain right?

Isn’t to ask others not to complain about anything about a complain itself?
 
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darkphoenix24 said:
It literally says: "Apple released new iOS 15 and iOS 16 updates on March 11 to address the security issue, and Apple says that devices still on iOS 13 or iOS 14 need to upgrade to iOS 15 for protection from the hacking tool.
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So Apple says for iOS13 and iOS14 there are no security patches available, no security update. Great.

This is not forcing Liquid Glass today but continuing this practice means it will be the case in the future.
 
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Howard2k said:
They do - you can just go into the store and buy one.
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🙂

Okay, it would be a pretty cool promotion if Apple offered -free- newer phones to these holdouts. Just literally show up at their doors. What a world it could be.

Ironically, the hardware has probably gone through more major changes than the OS for those averse to change! I was concerned how my mother would fare moving from the SE to the 16e with gesture control. She managed but does seem to think that everything can be solved by just tapping and swiping harder!
 
I'm sure they do. The fact remains that many of us, who are actually cogent and expert users, think the modern iteration of iOS is garbage. I updated my phone; my iPad and Macs will remain on the previous releases until I can't any longer. Really, Apple: listen to your users (you know, the ones that are actually knowledgable and use their own money to keep you in business) and give them options. We have little reason to continue our faith in the company at present. Hardware is great; software is something we would imagine in primary school. It's a joke. What in the hey is going on with Apple's software division? The dichotomy is rather drastic at this point, and to Tim Cook - that is not the sign of a well-run company, just one skating by on its laurels or wealth.
 
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If people are still running on that old of iOS, they may not have the option to upgrade to newer versions.

Are they just supposed to toss their completely working device and buy a new one?
 
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Clowndips said:
I'm sure they do. The fact remains that many of us, who are actually cogent and expert users, think the modern iteration of iOS is garbage. I updated my phone; my iPad and Macs will remain on the previous releases until I can't any longer. Really, Apple: listen to your users (you know, the ones that are actually knowledgable and use their own money to keep you in business) and give them options. We have little reason to continue our faith in the company at present. Hardware is great; software is something we would imagine in primary school. It's a joke. What in the hey is going on with Apple's software division? The dichotomy is rather drastic at this point, and to Tim Cook - that is not the sign of a well-run company, just one skating by on its laurels or wealth.
Click to expand...

Funny. Usually it’s the Android users who have this elitist attitude toward “simple” iPhone users. 🙄
 
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I hope that someone takes advantage of these vulnerabilities to jailbreak old iPhones/iPads and make a version of Android that runs on them.

I'm serious. Vulnerabilities in handheld games such as Sony PSP and Nintendo 3DS allow custom firmware to run on them, providing abilities beyond what the systems could ever do while they were supported. (My CFW PSP even supports more modern networking.) And obsolete hardware can run current, supported, secure operating systems; my fifteen-year-old MacBook Air can't run macOS beyond High Sierra, but I have it right now running the current fully-patched version of Linux Mint and it works wonderfully.

Imagine, for example, an iPhone XS (4GB RAM) running the current version of Android. An iPhone 6S, with 2GB RAM, could be able to handle the current version of Android Go.
 
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As someone alluded to upthtead, the reason a lot of people don't update is because it includes features they don't want and won't use at the expense of diminished performance.

Having one's device not loose performance over time is important.
Having security in the device is important.

So if Apple wants everyone's devices running the latest OS, give users the one feature they really want- the ability to turn off everything introduced in the last 5 years, including LG so they can preserve device performance for the features that are important to the individual.

Pretty much everything introduced after iOS 11 is of no use to me. I can only imagine how fast my 14PM would run and how long battery would last on 11.
That would be awesome at least to try- with security updated and patched, of course.
 
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