Khaberni - Apple has launched a new security update targeting older iPhone and iPad devices, in a step aimed at protecting users from advanced hacking tools known as "DarkSword".
The company explained that it has released updates iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7, to provide important security protection against cyber attacks exploiting web browsing, noting that these vulnerabilities can be exploited simply by visiting an infected website, according to a report published by "Tech Crunch" and reviewed by "Al Arabiya Business".
"DarkSword" is a dangerous hacking suite capable of targeting devices running versions ranging from iOS 18.4 to 18.7, where it can access sensitive data including messages, browsing history, geographic location, and even digital assets, and then transfer them to servers controlled by hackers.
These tools have already been observed in attacks targeting users in several countries, including China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.
Cybersecurity experts warn that the online deployment of these tools opens the door to their wider use by various entities.
Apple confirmed that its devices running the latest iOS 26 version were already protected from these attacks, but it quickly provided the new update for users who had not upgraded, either due to incompatibility of their devices or their preference to stay on older versions.
It is noted that some users avoided updating to iOS 26 due to the new "Liquid Glass" interface which garnered criticisms, prompting the company to enhance protection in older versions.
The company urged users to enable automatic updates to ensure they receive the latest security patches, pointing out that the Lockdown Mode feature also provides an additional layer of protection against this type of attacks, confirming no successful breaches of devices using this feature have been detected so far.
