Obsolete iPhones and iCloud

[mtneer]

I have a 4s on 9.3.5 my son used. As long as you have iOS 7 or above Facetime will work. The certfiicate under iOS 6 is expired and Apple did not renew it on purpose so people would update.

I also have an iPhone 5 on 10.3.1. Works just fine.

Do you think Apple would react to a "WannaCry" like attack on its older OS's in the future? Like Microsoft did release a one-time emergency patch for XP machines which were supposed to be EOL'd?

 

[eyoungren]

Do you think Apple would react to a "WannaCry" like attack on its older OS's in the future? Like Microsoft did release a one-time emergency patch for XP machines which were supposed to be EOL'd?

I doubt it.

Apple's mantra has always been, update, update, we'll sell you a new device, update.

Apple has people trained and invariably the largest part of their user base ends up being on the latest firmware. Updating is reflexive for the average Apple user.

With that in mind, the people on a version of vulnerable firmware would be a small percentage. Apple's only suggestion to them would be: update.

I could see them unsigning a new release if it had a security hole that was found and then releasing a newer update though. They've done that in the past for a different reason (8.0.1 I believe was bricking devices).