Hajra Naz
Apple has confirmed that iPhones are under attack, just days after Google reported similar issues affecting Android and Chrome across all platforms. Billions of users have been urged to update their devices as emergency fixes are being rushed out.
What Apple Said About the Attack
Apple warned that two iPhone vulnerabilities “may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals.” Experts note that these attacks bear the hallmarks of mercenary spyware. It’s significant that multiple platforms were hit simultaneously.
Linked Vulnerabilities Across Platforms
Both iPhone vulnerabilities are connected, and one overlaps with a flaw in Google Chrome. The fact that these vulnerabilities affected users at the same time is almost unprecedented in tech security history.
Critical CVEs and Apple’s Update Strategy
Apple has released fixes for CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529. In a surprising move, Apple is preventing owners of iPhone 11 and newer devices from staying on iOS 18. iOS 18.7.3 is now limited to phones unable to run iOS 26, effectively pushing hundreds of millions of users to upgrade to the latest firmware.
Read More: Apple iOS 27 Update Brings Smarter AI and Faster Performance
Why You Must Update Your iPhone
Whether you are new to iOS 26 or have been on the newer OS for a while, it is critical to ensure your iPhone is updated.
How to Check for Updates:
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Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
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Make sure you see the message “iOS is up to date” with iOS 26.2 listed.
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Tap “More Details” to view additional information about this software release.
Installing Updates Quickly
Even if automatic updates are enabled, there can be delays before the new software installs. The fastest method is to tap Install Now as soon as the new version becomes available.
