Millions of Apple customers warned over security flaws in iPhone, Apple TV, iPad devices - but there’s a fix

Millions of Apple customers are being urged to update their phones to fix security flaws that could allow cybercrooks to access personal information and take control of their devices.

The tech giant announced a raft of security updates this week to address several issues affecting Apple Watches, iPhones, iPads and Apple TV products.

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Each time a new software update patch is released, your device becomes out-of-date and is technically considered “at risk” unless you move to install the security fixes.

Apple’s security announcements reveal nine different updates were issued this week fixing flaws, including a fix for a problem that may allow an app to access user-sensitive data on iPhones.

iPhone customers with models 8 and later and all iPad Pros should update to iOS 16.3 or potentially face issues such as an app being able to “execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges”, which means it could allow a hacker to take control of the device.

The upgrade also fixes other problems, including an app being able to go around privacy preferences on Maps and Weather and repairing a flaw that may allow an app to access information about a user’s contacts.

Fixes have also been released for flaws in Apple TV and Apple Watch software that may allow hackers to use an app to access private data and bypass privacy settings.

New update list

Apple’s full list of software updates issued this week includes fixes for the below devices:

• iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3: iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later
• macOS Ventura 13.2: macOS Ventura
• iOS 15.7.3 and iPadOS 15.7.3: iPhone 6s (all models), iPhone 7 (all models), iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini (4th generation), and iPod touch (7th generation)
• watchOS 9.3: Apple Watch Series 4 and later
• macOS Big Sur 11.7.3: macOS Big Sur
• macOS Monterey 12.6.3: macOS Monterey
• iOS 12.5.7: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, and iPod touch (6th generation)
• Safari 16.3: macOS Big Sur and macOS Monterey
• tvOS 16.3: Apple TV 4K (all models) and Apple TV HD