Security Fixes Won't Require Full iOS Update in iOS 16, Will Be Installed Automatically

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 16 is introducing a new Rapid Security Response feature that's designed to make it easier and quicker for the company to deploy security improvements.

Security updates will be able to be automatically applied between standard software updates, so implementing security fixes will not require a full new version of iOS.

It's also going to let Apple automatically install security updates on many devices without people even having to think about it. There is a new "Install System and Data Files" option in Settings > General > Software Update that lets users toggle on automatic security updates independent of iOS updates.

For those who prefer not to have security updates, such as jailbreakers, the toggle does make it possible to avoid all security updates when it is disabled. It's worth noting that the "Install System and Data Files" option is enabled by default when installing iOS 16, so you'll need to manually turn it off if you are not interested in using the feature.

Article Link: Security Fixes Won't Require Full iOS Update in iOS 16, Will Be Installed Automatically

 

[_Spinn_]

This is huge! I can't believe it has take this long to get security fixes outside of full OS upgrades.

 

[8CoreWhore]

Should've done this years ago.

 

[jakey rolling]

Can't wait for Google to copy this ten years ago.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is great news. I like it.

 

[gmanist1000]

Astonished it's taken them this long.

 

[Realityck]

That was a requested feature, and it got implemented. Nice job Apple!

 

[roncron]

Great move. I have friends and relatives that don’t update iOS very often and this have missed out on lots of security patches. Wish we had this feature years ago, but better late than never.

 

[Premium1]

About time. Nothing like having to spend 20 minutes waiting for a bug fix update.

 

[Mizouse]

Are they going to give us the option to stay on iOS 15 if we aren’t ready for iOS 16 and then change their mind and say it’s only temporary?

 

[oofio2461]

Good for Devices stuck on Ios 15. (6s/7)

 

[Bruhtatoe]

Can't wait for Google to copy this ten years ago.

They did. It's called "Google Play system update".

 

[MiniApple]

Finally!!!
This helps so much with my elderly parents - they'll get security updates without whatever NEW services/stuff popping up to confuse them and I can take my time, do the i(Pad)OS update under myself and explaining whatever NEW stuff or disabling/uninstalling it on my time.

 

[Spock]

So now they will be able to push a small update to your iPhone that gives you more reminders to update to iOS 17

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I'm willing to wager that there will still be security fixes that require a full dot update install, but every patch that can be implemented this way will be welcome.

 

[BootsWalking]

Excellent addition that will surely result in more timely and frequent security patches since Apple won't have to roll it up into big releases. Should save Apple a pretty penny on bandwidth costs as well.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This is huge! I can't believe it has take this long to get security fixes outside of full OS upgrades.

Agreed. Maybe next year they’ll finally discover the advanced technology that allows arbitrary placement of homescreen icons.

We could finally retire the jiggle mode bomb squad.

 

[FelixDerKater]

This will save having to dump a whole new version for a minor flaw patch.

 

[iObama]

Freakin' FINALLY dude. As an IT Specialist, this is one of my biggest pain points. Users are so hesitant to update because it takes freakin' 20 minutes per. I don't care about getting them new features, but I do care about getting security holes patched.

Stay on iOS 16.0.1 for a year for all I care, as long as the interim security updates are pushed out.

 

[spartan1967]

That was a requested feature, and it got implemented. Nice job Apple!

So was keeping iOS 14 security updates going promised by Apple while iOS 15 was public, but we saw how long that lasted. If you read the article, there is no promise for how long we will have these “security only” updates for iOS 16. Not falling for that again Apple.

 

[RalfTheDog]

I would hope you could get security updates, but choose when to do it. Yes, I want to patch the potential security issue. No, I don't want to do it before I find out if it bricks everything. I like the idea of incremental updates. I like the idea of the phone asking permission before it installs.

 

[m1maverick]

I hope that by doing so they provide an easy way to determine if the device has the latest security updates installed. Currently it's very easy to tell if a device has the latest security updates merely by checking the iOS version. If they don't change the iOS version number then I hope they provide some other version information to indicate that a security update has been applied.

 

[posguy99]

This is huge! I can't believe it has take this long to get security fixes outside of full OS upgrades.

Yes, but what crazy person ever allows Apple to install a delta update anyway? That hasn't been safe for years, if it ever was at all.

Is this somehow different because the delta is smaller?

 

[Marie.D]

This is a thing that should have been implemented a decade ago. It never made sense to me that Apple had to recompile the entire OS and the users had to re download everything for security patches. It slows down adoption, it’s time consuming for both parties… Wow, we’re moving, slowly but I’ll take it. Next year, maybe we’ll have separate updates for stock apps instead of them being bundled in the OS? Crossing fingers.

 

[I7guy]

Good job apple. Benefits everybody all around.