July 30, 2024, 14:34 |
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Apple is preparing for the launch of iOS 18 but continues to support the current operating system, iOS 17. The latter is getting a follow-up update with numerous bug fixes and security patches.
Last week, an iOS update was supposed to be released but it was quickly canceled. Now, however, it is finally here: iOS 17.6 is ready for download after several weeks of beta testing. TECHBOOK has taken a close look at the content.
What’s included in the update
The update to iOS 17.6 does not bring any new features, as Apple has already implemented all announced features with iOS 17 in earlier versions. Only minor wording changes at several points in the operating system and an adjustment to family sharing can be found. Those who receive an invitation to a family profile can now choose to accept or decline it.
Otherwise, iOS 17.6 includes several smaller and larger bug fixes and, above all, a number of security patches. These affect the iOS kernel, the image format framework, photo storage, shortcuts, Siri, and the browser engine WebKit. In some cases, attackers were previously able to access sensitive user data—such as contacts—from the lock screen.
In the Photos app, it was possible to view the album with hidden images. The reason was an authentication issue that Apple has resolved through improved status management. With a similar improvement, the company fixed a bug that allowed strangers to access private browser tabs.
The complete list of fixes and patches can be found on the Apple Support page for the security content of iOS 17.6.
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Should you install iOS 17.6 right away?
According to Apple, there are no zero-day exploits among the vulnerabilities found in the iOS operating system. These are attack vectors that exploit an unpatched security hole before developers have the chance to fix it (hence “zero days”). All patches listed by Apple address “only” issues that security researchers found before they became public.
Still, TECHBOOK recommends installing the update as soon as possible due to the sheer number of issues that iOS 17.6 resolves. As of now, we are not aware of any problems after installing the software.
iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6 are available for iPhone XS and newer, iPad Pro 13-inch, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and newer, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and newer, iPad Air 3rd generation and newer, iPad 6th generation and newer, and iPad mini 5. Apple has also released a separate update for the Safari browser for macOS and Windows. This includes all security patches relevant to Safari specifically and the WebKit engine in general.