Apple has launched an urgent fix for older iPhones after the discovery of a potentially devastating attack.
In recent weeks, a new hacking toolkit named “Darksword” has leaked online. The attack has already been used, and can break into a phone just by placing a malicious link onto a website.
Once that happens, hackers can potentially take over a whole device, stealing personal information including their messages and location data.
It has been used on websites targeting users in places including China and Ukraine. But, in the time since, the toolkit has leaked online, potentially allowing anyone to use it.
The exploit did not work on devices that were running newer versions of iOS, the operating system for iPhones and iPads, and Apple had fixed the problem last year. But potentially hundreds of millions of devices are yet to receive those updates, leaving them liable to attack.
The changes came in iOS 26, the update launched in September but which some users have chosen to avoid. That update proved particularly controversial because it includes visual changes, known as ‘Liquid Glass’, which some users and critics have reacted negatively to.
Now, Apple has launched an urgent security fix for those older versions of iOS. The update, numbered iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7, will allow users of that older software to protect their devices.
Apple users with automatic updates enabled should have their devices updated by themselves. But they can also be manually updated by opening the Settings app, clicking general, and following the software update options that will show.
