Urgent: iPhone Update Required Following Serious Warning
Attention iPhone users! Security experts are urging you to update your devices immediately to address dangerous security flaws in the mobile operating system.
The Pegasus spyware, created by Israel-based NSO Group, has been found in iPads and iPhones. Apple Inc. has released an emergency update to patch the vulnerability. Researchers from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab discovered Pegasus on an Apple device belonging to an employee of a Washington-based civil society group.
Citizen Lab has not provided further details about the affected individual or the organization.
How to Update and What to Do
To install the iOS 16.6.1 update, follow these steps:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Select ”General” followed by “Software Update”.
- You should see the iOS 16.6.1 software update there; tap to begin the installation.
If you don’t see the update, go back to the General page, then tap “About” to check your iOS version number. If it’s 16.6.1, you already have the update installed.
If your phone is still using 16.6 or an earlier version, repeat the above steps. If you still don’t see an update, try restarting your phone. If that doesn’t make the update appear, double-check your internet connection and then wait a bit before trying again.
Apple’s update is available for the following devices:
- iPhone 8 and later
- iPad Pro
- iPad Air 3rd generation and later
- iPad 5th generation and later
- iPad mini 5th generation and later versions
While spyware can be difficult to detect, tools such as iVerify can be used to determine whether the malware is on your phone or device. Some researchers have suggested that restarting an iPhone or another device by turning it off and on can disrupt the spyware.
Citizen Lab recommends turning on Lockdown Mode on your Apple device to potentially mitigate the threat posed by the malware, especially if your device is at a greater risk of attack.
More Details
“We attribute the exploit to NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware with high confidence, based on forensics we have from the target device,” said Bill Marczak, senior researcher at Citizen Lab, which is based at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, according to Reuters.
Apple has already released an emergency update to address the security flaw. It is strongly advised that iPhone users download the patch as soon as possible.
According to researchers, Pegasus is dangerous because it allows users to send attachments via iPhone’s iMessage with hidden code known as BLASTPASS, which enables the spyware to take control of a device’s functions. Citizen Lab warns that it can control an iPhone or another device “without any interaction from the victim.”
“We urge everyone to immediately update their devices,” Citizen Lab stated. “We encourage everyone who may face increased risk because of who they are or what they do to enable Lockdown Mode.”
“This latest find shows once again that civil society is targeted by highly sophisticated exploits and mercenary spyware. Apple’s update will secure devices belonging to regular users, companies, and governments around the globe. The BLASTPASS discovery highlights the incredible value to our collective cybersecurity of supporting civil society organizations.”
NSO Group, a controversial group, declined to comment on the latest discovery or Apple’s update. An Apple spokesperson also declined to comment.
The U.S. government has blacklisted NSO Group since 2021 due to alleged abuses, including surveillance of government officials and journalists. The firm’s spyware has been under investigation for years because it can collect location data and photos, according to researchers.
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