Apple Now Sending Critical Security Alerts to iPhones Running iOS 17 and Earlier

Source: MacRumors

Critical Security Alerts

Apple has begun pushing Lock Screen notifications to iPhones and iPads running older versions of iOS and iPadOS. The alerts appear as a Critical Software notification from the Settings app and warn that Apple “is aware of attacks targeting out‑of‑date iOS software, including the version on your iPhone.” Users are urged to install a critical update to protect their device.

Affected Exploit Kits

• Coruna – exploits vulnerabilities in iOS 13 through iOS 17.2.1.
• DarkSword – similarly targets the same range of iOS versions.

Clicking a malicious link or visiting a compromised website on an unpatched device could result in data being stolen.

Update Recommendations

“If your iPhone doesn’t have the latest software, update iOS to protect your data,” Apple advises.

To update:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General → Software Update.
3. Follow the prompts to install the latest iOS version available for your device.

Versions Released

• iOS 15.8.7 and iOS 16.7.15 (with corresponding iPadOS versions) were released on March 11 to address vulnerabilities associated with the Coruna exploit kit.
• Devices running the latest updated versions of iOS 15 through iOS 26 are already protected.
• Devices on iOS 13 or iOS 14 must update to iOS 15 to receive these protections.

Additional Protections

• Apple Safe Browsing in Safari is enabled by default and blocks malicious URL domains identified in the attacks.
• Lockdown Mode (available on iOS 16 and later) can be enabled to protect against malicious web content.