Big updates from Apple: For iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches – also for older devices – a fresh version of the respective operating system is available for download, which eliminates serious security gaps. The company recommends all users to install it. According to reports, the vulnerabilities “may be actively exploited for attacks,” Apple said.
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Severe bugs in Kernel and WebKit
The bugs in the kernel and the WebKit browser engine, which enable the injection of malicious code and the complete takeover of the devices, were discovered and reported by security researchers from Kaspersky, among others. The sophisticated monitoring software TriangleDB was apparently smuggled in, about which new details were given on Wednesday. The attacks using the kernel vulnerability were aimed at iOS versions older than 15.7, Apple explains.
iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 are available for newer iPhones (from iPhone 8) and iPads. At the same time, Apple released iOS 15.7.7 and iPadOS 15.7.7, the updates are intended for hardware that cannot be updated to iOS 16 – including the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7 series, which are now eight and seven years old. Also for MacBooks and desktops -Macs have patched versions of the operating system in the form of macOS 13.4.1 Ventura, macOS 12.6.7 Monterey, and macOS 11.7.8 Big Sur. The watchOS kernel also gets the bug fix, with both watchOS version 9.5.2 and watchOS 8.8.1. The latter covers the Apple Watch Series 3, which is no longer sold by Apple.
USB camera adapter should work again
iOS 16.5.1 and iPadOS 16.5.1 also aim to fix a bug that apparently causes Apple’s Lightning to USB 3-Camera Adapter to stop working after installing iOS 16.5. The adapter is often used to connect USB devices to iPhones and older iPads (without a USB-C port).
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(lbe)