To everyone’s surprise, Apple released yesterday, Friday, several minor updates for the iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems. Updates that come with some bug fixes, but, above all, with very important security improvements for all our devices.
These updates, iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1, remind us of the enormous importance of keeping our devices at the latest available version and that we should install as soon as possible. As if that were not enough, in addition to carrying out the release outside the usual schedule, Apple has also immediately stopped signing previous versions. Something that is not at all common and that has a very clear explanation.
Upgrades vital to our security
Following the release of iOS 16.4 and its 30 reasons to update as soon as possible, the release notes for iOS 16.4.1 reveal that in this update, Apple improves the functioning of emojis, which in some cases could not show the skin tone we choose. In parallel, it fixes a bug that could cause Siri to be unresponsive in certain cases. The same corrections arrive to iPadOS 16.4.1, while in macOS 13.3.1, in addition to the emoji, this update fixes a bug that could cause the unlocking of the Mac with the Apple Watch not to work.
Up to this point, we would be dealing with a maintenance update, but it is the unseen changes that matter most. According to Apple after the release, the new versions close two security bugs that have been “actively exploited“.
The first affects iPhone 8 and later, all iPad Pro models and most iPad Air, iPad and iPad mini models. According to Apple, an app was able to execute arbitrary code with Kernel privileges. The second, similarly affected, revolves around a malicious website, which could also cause arbitrary code execution.
Such is the importance of these fixes, that Apple has stopped signing iOS 16.3.1 as soon as the update is released. Something that normally takes a few days of margin, but this time comes along with the launch to prevent any device from being left behind and without updating.
Moves like these remind us of the enormous importance of software updates. Not to be able to enjoy new emoji, that too, but to maintain the security of our devices and to ensure that our data remain ours. So, the best thing to do is to update as soon as possible in Settings > General > Software Update.
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