On Monday, Apple issued its first set of “rapid security” patches, which are available to the public. These fixes are intended to swiftly resolve security flaws that are being actively exploited or represent major threats to Apple’s customers.
The so-called Rapid Security Response upgrades, according to a notification, “deliver important security improvements between software updates.”
Apple consumers now have the ability to update the software on their devices far more quickly than was previously possible thanks to a new feature called Rapid Security Responses.
Apple claims that the capability is activated by default and that it is possible to install some quick fixes without the need to reboot, but this is not always the case.
Customers whose devices are running iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, or macOS 13.3.1 are now able to download the emergency security update. After it has been installed, it will add a letter to the software version, such as iOS 16.4.1 (a), iPadOS 16.4.1 (a), and macOS 13.3.1 (a).
The quick security repair will not be made available to Apple customers who are running earlier versions of the company’s software. Apple has said that the necessary adjustments would be incorporated into future software upgrades.
However, there have been some hiccups with the rollout that took place on Monday. A number of consumers have reported that they were unable to successfully install the update. TechCrunch was able to download the updates on an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but they did not instantly install themselves after being downloaded.
A request for comment was sent to Apple, but the company did not provide a response. In addition, it is unclear what flaws in security are being addressed by this upgrade.
Over the past few weeks, researchers have uncovered new exploits that were developed by spyware manufacturers QuaDream and NSO Group with the intention of targeting iPhone owners all over the world.
Both spyware companies took use of previously revealed weaknesses in Apple’s software, which allowed their government clients to take data invisibly from a victim’s iPhone.
Lockdown Mode is a feature that was introduced by Apple in the previous year in order to prevent such targeted assaults. Citizen Lab reported last month that Lockdown Mode effectively stopped at least one NSO-developed exploit that used a weakness in Apple’s smart home feature known as HomeKit.
Because of the apparent severity of this most recent security patch, we are going to continue making every effort to upgrade, and you should do the same.