Apple Issues Urgent Security Warning to Millions of iPhone Users
The tech giant alerts users about a serious security threat impacting specific iPhone models and suggests immediate software updates.
Apple Inc. has issued an urgent alert to millions of iPhone users, advising them to update their devices immediately following the discovery of a serious security threat.
This threat is characterized by highly sophisticated cyber-attacks that could grant hackers 'full administrative privileges' over compromised iPhones, allowing unauthorized execution of programs in the name of the device owner.
The advisory highlights a potential security breach concerning Apple's devices, particularly as attacks could disable the USB Restricted Mode on locked devices.
Apple acknowledged awareness of reports indicating that this issue may have been exploited in a highly targeted attack against specific individuals.
The affected models include the iPhone XS and subsequent versions, along with various generations of the iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad mini.
The alarm was raised following the failure of the USB Restricted Mode feature designed to prevent third-party software from accessing Apple devices once they have been locked for more than an hour.
So far, there have been no confirmed cases of breaches attributed to hackers exploiting this vulnerability.
In response to these security concerns, Apple released updates for its mobile operating systems, iOS and iPadOS, to address the issues that could have been leveraged in an advanced attack against vulnerable individuals.
While Apple is generally regarded as a company with strong security protocols that complicate unauthorized access, it remains not exempt from cyber threats.
Recent reports have indicated an increasing frequency of data breaches affecting Apple users.
A recent study found that approximately 2.6 billion records were breached over a two-year period, underscoring the growing danger of data vulnerabilities across various sectors, which may directly impact Apple users.
Despite Apple’s strong security measures, data breaches are still relatively rare compared to other platforms.
However, it is important to note that no system can guarantee 100% resistance to hacking, despite claims made by Apple.