Apple Issues Urgent iPhone Security Warning: What Users Need to Know
Critical Security Threat Affects Millions of iPhone Users
Apple has issued an urgent security warning that affects hundreds of millions of iPhone users worldwide. The tech giant has issued a high-priority security warning affecting 29 different iPhone models, following confirmation that multiple security vulnerabilities—some actively exploited—could allow attackers to gain unauthorised access to iPhones. Security data shows the flaw would impact around half of iPhone users globally, equating to approximately 800 million devices.
WebKit Vulnerabilities Enable Sophisticated Attacks
Apple began warning users of two critical flaws found in WebKit, which is the browser engine that powers Safari and all browsers on iOS. The iOS 26.2 update patches 26 flaws, two of which the company says are currently being exploited by attackers, including vulnerabilities in WebKit that power the Safari browser and iOS applications. The alert follows the discovery of actively exploited vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to compromise devices through malicious web content.
Some issues addressed by Apple in its latest update included a serious exploit that reportedly allowed ‘extremely sophisticated attacks’ to be carried out on ‘specific targeted individuals’ who were still using iPhones not updated to the latest iOS software, iOS 26. The WebKit vulnerabilities patched by iOS 26.2 will prevent iPhones from being exploited by extremely targeted malwares such as Pegasus and Predator that were used to spy on dissidents, journalists and certain businesses.
Affected Devices and Urgent Action Required
Devices most at risk include the iPhone 11 and later, the iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), the iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later), the iPad Air (3rd generation and later), the iPad (8th generation and later), and the iPad mini (5th generation and later).
The only way to protect yourself from these vulnerabilities is to upgrade to the latest version of iOS, which is iOS 26.2. Security experts note ‘there’s no workaround or user behaviour that meaningfully mitigates this risk,’ explaining that upgrading to the latest version of the software is ‘the only effective defence.’
What This Means for iPhone Users
This security warning represents a critical moment for iPhone security. The warning underscores the scale of Apple’s ecosystem and highlights why timely software updates remain critical for iPhone users worldwide. Users who have automatic updates enabled should already have the patch installed, whilst those without must manually download iOS 26.2 through their device settings.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that even devices with robust security measures require constant vigilance. Cybersecurity experts urge all iPhone users to update immediately, as delays create wider exposure windows for malicious actors to exploit these known vulnerabilities.