A fresh version of iOS 12 was issued by Apple on Wednesday, nearly a year after the last update, in order to address a security vulnerability addressed in more current OS versions. Apple doesn’t offer security patches for its older software very often, so when it does, you can be sure it’s a significant concern if you’re still using an iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, or iPhone 6 Plus.
If you open a malicious website in Safari or another browser, your phone could be exploited through the vulnerability resolved in iOS 12.5.6 and run arbitrary code without your knowledge or consent. Furthermore, Apple claims that someone somewhere may have attempted to leverage this vulnerability. This is a fairly standard warning for the corporation, so there’s no need for alarm. However, until you upgrade your phone, you should probably proceed with caution.
The update is available through the Settings > General > Software Update menu. You can follow our tutorial on how to free up storage if your phone alerts you that there isn’t enough space to load the update; some of the screens may seem a little bit different, but the basics will mostly remain the same.
In addition to the iPad Air and iPad Mini 2, 3, and 6, the update is also available for the original iPad Air. Today is a wonderful day to update any of them that you might still have lying around.
The need for constant security updates is not always a bad thing. In certain cases, they may suggest that a lot of defects are making it into the software, but they may also indicate that a corporation has become adept at detecting and eliminating problems. My intention in bringing up Apple’s previous history is not to embarrass the company, but rather to stress the significance of staying current with software patches.
It’s true that it’s a pain to have to upgrade your phone or computer all the time. No one enjoys having their gadgets rendered useless for the brief time it takes to apply an update. However, Apple is now developing a method to automate and simplify the installation of critical security upgrades.
In iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, as well as macOS Ventura, there will be a feature dubbed “Rapid Security Response,” which appears to allow Apple to deploy security upgrades to your device without requiring a restart. The capability could alleviate some of the stress associated with maintaining your device’s security, while some updates will still require a reboot (it’s hard to repair an issue with a kernel while the OS is running).
Lockdown Mode, the company’s “severe” security setting, will also be released, though most users won’t find it useful. Apple claims that Lockdown Mode is primarily intended for users who are concerned that they may be targeted by experienced hackers, such as those hired by governments, by disabling various functionalities that are highly prone to security problems. If so, you shouldn’t have to wait long for the feature to arrive in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura.
