Submitted by Fred Straker on
Apple has patched an important security vulnerability with the release of iOS 9.3.5. The iOS update comes just weeks after iOS 9.3.4 closed off the Pangu jailbreak earlier this month. Details regarding the latest security fix have surfaced and Apple has released an official security document on the matter. So should iOS users rush to update?
The short answer is yes. If your iOS device is running iOS 9, installing the latest version will maximize security. Apple recommends that anyone with a compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch should update to iOS 9.3.5. When it comes to the security threat itself, the discovery was made and disclosed to Apple just two weeks ago.
According to the New York Times, the security threat came from a company called NSO Group. The report states that:
NSO Group’s software can read text messages and emails and track calls and contacts. It can even record sounds, collect passwords and trace the whereabouts of the phone user.
Two security researchers at Citizen Lab alerted Apple to the threat, which lead to the patch. While everyday iPhone users would likely not be targeted by the exploit at this time, there's no telling how common this type of threat could become in the future. NSO Group's spyware tools have reportedly been used to track individuals targeted for surveillance in countries such as Mexico, Turkey, and Kenya.
iOS 9.3.5 will probably be the last update to iOS 9 before the release of iOS 10. Launch of the next generation mobile operating system from Apple is expected within weeks. In the meantime, make sure to update your iPhone to iOS 9.3.5 to help improve security and privacy.