Apple releases security fix for older iPhones and iPads to protect against DarkSword attacks

Apple has pushed a information update to older iPhones and iPads that protects against a leaked acceptable of almighty hacking tools susceptible of stealing information from a person’s device.

The tech elephantine said connected Wednesday that it released iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 to let a broader scope of devices to “receive important information protections from web attacks called DarkSword.”

DarkSword is simply a hacking toolkit that tin beryllium utilized to interruption into Apple devices moving iOS 18.4 done 18.7 simply by visiting a website that hosts the malicious code, specified arsenic morganatic websites that person themselves been breached. The exploits bargain a person’s instrumentality data, including their messages, browser histories, determination data, and cryptocurrency, and upload the information to a server hosted by the hackers.

The tools person already been seen successful definite attacks targeting users successful China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine. But present that the tools person been published online, information researchers pass that anyone tin use these hacking tools to people radical moving older versions of Apple’s mobile software.

Apple says users moving its latest software, iOS 26, were protected weeks ago. The institution has besides released a caller update to iOS 18 users with iPhones and iPads that are incapable to tally iOS 26 software.

But with Wednesday’s update, Apple has present provided DarkSword fixes for the millions of users with unpatched devices that are susceptible of updating to iOS 26 but who person chosen not to update. Some users person opted not to update to debar the software’s caller “liquid glass” interface that has drawn idiosyncratic complaints.

Wired reported earlier connected Wednesday that Apple was preparing to release the update.

Apple customers who person switched connected automatic bundle updates should person the caller software. Apple said its optional information protections feature, Lockdown Mode, besides defends against DarkSword attacks. The institution told TechCrunch past week that it is unaware of immoderate palmy authorities spyware onslaught against an Apple instrumentality moving Lockdown Mode.