Apple Rolls Out iOS 18 Security Update – Upgrade Your iPhone Today!

Apple has recently rolled out a fresh version of iOS 18 for all iPhone users in response to the emergence of a new exploit chain named DarkSword.

This latest update is in the form of a new build of iOS 18.7.7 with build number 22H340, applicable to all iPhone models.

New iOS 18 security update now available

DarkSword is an exploit chain that affects iOS versions 18.4 through 18.7 and was uncovered by the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG). According to GTIG, various commercial surveillance vendors and suspected state-sponsored actors are utilizing DarkSword in distinct campaigns by chaining multiple exploits together.

To combat DarkSword, Apple initially released new versions of iOS 18, but only for iPhone models incapable of running iOS 26. These updates manifested as iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 for iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPad (7th generation).

However, there are iPhone users with devices capable of running iOS 26 who have chosen not to update, leaving themselves vulnerable to the DarkSword exploit since the last iOS 18 update released for all iPhones was iOS 18.7.3 in December.

Hence, the current iOS 18 update is accessible to all iPhones still operating on iOS 18, irrespective of iOS 26 support.

According to Wired, this security measure is known in the industry as “backporting a patch.”

Apple had faced criticism for not backporting patches for iOS 18 as DarkSword spread among hacker groups using the tool for various malicious activities. Google reported that DarkSword was used by hacker groups to breach iPhones of users in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Users with auto-update enabled on their iPhones will automatically receive this iOS 18 update. Apple mentioned in a statement to Wired that this update aims to provide important security protections to users with auto-update enabled.

Apple advised, “We encourage all users with supported devices to update to iOS 26 to receive our most advanced protections.”

In February, Apple shared the first set of iOS 26 adoption statistics, revealing that iOS 26 is installed on 74% of iPhones released in the last four years.

To install today’s iOS 18 security update, iPhone users can navigate to the Settings app, select General, and then choose Software Update. If auto-update is enabled on the device, the update should be installed automatically.

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