Apple Issues Urgent Warning to iPhone Users Following Sophisticated Cyberattacks

Critical Security Alert for iPhone Users

Apple has issued a stark warning to iPhone users after cyberattacks were launched against some customers, prompting the tech giant to release two iOS updates to fix vulnerabilities that were targeted in the attacks. The company called it an ‘extremely sophisticated attack’, and at least 50 percent of users have not upgraded to iOS 26, even prompting the US government to warn them to update devices.

Understanding the Vulnerabilities

The vulnerabilities impact WebKit, which is the browser engine behind Apple’s Safari on its iOS software. The two vulnerabilities are CVE-2025-43529 and CVE-2025-14174, and were able to corrupt some devices on the iOS released prior to iOS 26. Apple is pushing for anyone who has an iPhone 11 or above to make the update, after it added two crucial patches that could protect users from vicious malware attacks.

The WebKit related vulnerabilities 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. A hack would allow a cyber criminal to run their own code on victims’ devices just by getting them to open a harmful web page.

Alarmingly Low Update Adoption

As of January 2026, only around 4.6% of active iPhones are on the new iOS 26.2, with just 16% using any version of iOS 26. The tech company first released iOS 26 in September last year, with the most recent version iOS 26.2 available for updates from 12 December, however a lot of iPhone users have resisted the new update.

What iPhone Users Must Do Now

Installing the update ‘is the only effective defense’ against cyber-attacks on iPhones, with no workaround or user behaviour that meaningfully mitigates this risk. Apple has emphasised the importance of restarting your device once you’ve installed the new update, because restarting it will allow it to clear out any malware that’s hiding in the device’s memory.

iOS 26 includes heightened security features such as Safari fingerprinting defence and anti-scam functions for calls and messages. Security experts strongly urge all iPhone users to check their device settings and install the latest iOS 26.2 update immediately to protect against these serious threats. The vulnerabilities affect devices such as the iPhone 11 and up, iPad Pros, the iPad Air from the third generation and up, iPad (eighth generation and up) and the iPad Mini (fifth generation and up).