Apple issues urgent warning: iPhones that haven't been updated with the security patch are at risk of being hacked.
Apple has just issued an urgent warning, confirming that iPhones are being exploited in sophisticated cyberattacks, similar to what Google announced regarding Android and Chrome, forcing billions of users to update immediately.
Just days after Google confirmed that Android and the Chrome browser across multiple platforms had been attacked, Apple also issued a worrying announcement: iPhones were facing "extremely sophisticated" cyberattacks targeting specific individuals.
According to Apple, two critical security vulnerabilities on the iPhone “may have been exploited in practice,” showing many signs of mercenary spyware, a type of tool often used in targeted surveillance campaigns. The simultaneous attack on multiple major platforms is not a coincidence, but indicates a large-scale and well-planned exploitation campaign.
Two dangerous security vulnerabilities, affecting both iPhone and Chrome.
What is particularly concerning is that the two iPhone security vulnerabilities are closely related, with one coinciding with a vulnerability previously discovered in Google Chrome. The fact that these vulnerabilities simultaneously affect multiple large ecosystems is rare, highlighting the severity of the threat.
Apple has released patches for two vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529, and advises users to update immediately to avoid the risk of unauthorized access, data theft, or covert surveillance.
Amidst rising cyberattacks, Apple has made a surprising decision: to stop allowing iPhone 11 and newer models to continue using iOS 18. The iOS 18.7.3 update is now only available for devices that cannot upgrade to iOS 26.
This means that hundreds of millions of iPhone users will be forced to upgrade to iOS 26 if they want to continue receiving important security patches. This move shows that Apple is tightening its security strategy, prioritizing protecting users from increasingly sophisticated threats.
Why do you need to check your iPhone right now?
Whether you've just upgraded to iOS 26 or have been using the operating system for a while, checking the update status is extremely important. Even with automatic updates enabled, there's still a chance the new patch hasn't been installed due to system lag or network conditions.
Given that the vulnerability has already been exploited in practice, even a delay of a few days in updating could leave your iPhone a vulnerable target.
Apple guides users to perform a quick check by following these steps: Go toSetting> SelectGeneral settingsClickUpdate the software..
Here, make sure you see the message "iOS has been updated" and the version displayed is iOS 26.2. You can tap on it.See details" to read the full information about the security patches that Apple has just released.
If a new update is available, the quickest way to protect your device is to press "Install nowInstead of waiting for the system to update automatically.
The entire check and update process only takes a few minutes, but it can help you avoid serious risks related to data loss, unauthorized tracking, or device intrusion.
In the context of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks targeting mobile users, updating your iPhone now is no longer an option, but a necessity.