CERT-In, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team, has been helping protect consumers since 2004. The team is an arm of the Indian government that looks out for vulnerabilities in software that could harm consumers. The office has a warning for Apple users. The tech company is in the process of launching its new iPhone and its newest software update. Some users get lazy with these updates, but the office is urging people to update them as soon as possible due to some “high severity” vulnerabilities.
CERT-In Warns Apple Users To Update Software
CERT-In put out a report warning users of all Apple products that a failure to update their software could be disastrous. Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported from users who are running older versions of iOS. This warning comes days after the launch of the new iPhone 16. The report states that hackers may be able to bypass security features on devices running the older operating systems.
“CERT-In has classified the advisory as ‘High Severity,’ noting that these vulnerabilities could allow attackers to access sensitive information, execute arbitrary code, bypass security restrictions, or even bypass authentication.”
Another report gave an even more detailed list of things hackers could do with a device running on outdated software.
“The vulnerabilities, deemed ‘high-risk,’ could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information, execute arbitrary code, bypass critical security restrictions, cause denial-of-service (DoS) conditions, elevate privileges, and perform spoofing or cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.”
The good news for consumers is there is an easy fix. Apple has already come out with a software update that fixes all of the vulnerabilities. All users have to do is make sure they are running the newest software on their devices.
Affected Devices
CERT-In put out a list of devices that need to be updated. It is not just iPhones but a wide range of products that people need to make sure are updated properly.
- Apple iOS versions prior to 18 and iPadOS versions prior to 18
- Apple iOS versions prior to 17.7 and iPadOS versions prior to 17.7
- Apple macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.7
- Apple macOS Ventura versions prior to 13.7
- Apple macOS Sequoia versions prior to 15
- Apple tvOS versions prior to 18
- Apple watchOS versions prior to 11
- Apple Safari versions prior to 18
- Apple Xcode versions prior to 16
- Apple visionOS versions prior to 2
A Good Reminder
While the CERT-In warning is mainly for people in the country of India, it is a good reminder for all users to make sure their devices are up to date on their software. Hackers will often target users who have outdated software. Given how much personal information consumers keep on their technological devices nowadays, keeping them secure is of the utmost importance. Updating software can seem inconvenient and bring unwanted features, but companies like Apple issue them for security reasons. It is worth noting that the United States CERT did not issue a vulnerability note for this issue.
Final Thoughts
India is one of the most populated countries in the world. Combine that with Apple’s popularity, and there could be a real problem if people do not take action. Hopefully, people will heed the warning from CERT-In and update their software. The threat might not be as immediate for those in other countries, but it is a cautionary tale. The key to staying safe with technology is to be proactive. Failure to do so can have consequences. As our world becomes more technology-driven, the need for users to be diligent in software updates only increases.
