MILLIONS of older iPhone models can claim a vital upgrade to keep you safe.
It’s essential that you claim the upgrade as soon as possible.
Apple regularly releases iPhone updates to fix security holes.
These holes could be exploited by hackers to take control of your device.
Normally older iPhone models get cut off from security updates after a few years.
But Apple has released a brand new security update called iOS 12.5.7 for devices that can’t get the newer iOS 16.2.
iOS 16 cuts off at the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone SE (2nd generation or later).
But iOS 12 supports phones all the way back to the iPhone 5S, which came out in 2013.
Cyber-experts are now urging iPhone owners to update to the latest version as soon as possible.
“Apple’s latest updates just dropped,” said MalwareBytes’ Paul Ducklin.
Most read in Tech
“And as far as we can tell, there’s only one zero-day fix amongst the updates, and once again it’s for iOS 12.
“Just as importantly, this patch also fixes a hole in WebKit that sounds as though it’s already being abused by attackers for implanting malware.”
Check for the new update by going to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone.
The bug in question is named CVE-2022-42856.
It was already fixed in December 2022 with the iOS 16.2 update.
But older phones that couldn’t get iOS 16 were left without a fix.
Now very old devices can get an update for a very serious bug.
Newer models
In other news, Apple rolled out a brand new update for more recent iPhone models this week.
The brand new iOS 16.3 update was released overnight – and it doesn’t cost a penny.
There are several new features bundled into the update, including something called iCloud Advanced Data Protection.
This means your iCloud back-ups are much more secure.
The update also includes a brand new wallpaper, fixes for a host of bugs, and some security patches.
To check for the update, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Here’s a list of all the iOS 16 (and iOS 16.3) supported devices:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone Xs
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone X
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
Not being able to get the latest iOS means you’ll lose access to the most up-to-date security fixes.
These are vital patches that close holes used by hackers to access your systems.
So using a very old iPhone that can’t be updated could put you at risk.
If you can’t update to iOS 16, consider upgrading your iPhone sooner rather than later.
Best Phone and Gadget tips and hacks
Looking for tips and hacks for your phone? Want to find those secret features within social media apps? We have you covered…
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
