Do you still rock an older iPhone or iPad that can’t be updated to iOS 17? If so, you can get essential security fixes by installing iOS 15.8.1 and 16.7.5.
Just because your iPhone or iPad is too old for iOS 17 doesn’t mean it doesn’t qualifies for bug-fix updates that Apple releases from time to time. While you don’t get any new features, those maintenance releases bring security patches.
Launched on January 23, iOS/iPadOS 15.8.1 and 16.7.5 address various exploits while squishing nasty bugs, making old iPhones and iPads more secure. To install them, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions.
What’s new in iOS and iPadOS 16.7.5?
First and foremost, iOS 16.7.5 and iPadOS 16.7.5 patch a pair of vulnerabilities discovered in WebKit, Safari’s rendering engine.
The first could let a hacker obtain sensitive private information by luring you into opening malicious web content. Similarly, the second vulnerability may lead to arbitrary code execution when processing web content.
Both issues were discovered by Clément Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group. According to Apple’s support document, the company is “aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 16.7.1.”
What’s new in iOS and iPadOS 15.8.1?
iOS 15.8.1 and iPadOS 15.8.1 include fixes for four WebKit issues that could result in arbitrary code execution or enable hackers to fingerprint you.
An issue with the Safari app that could make your private browsing activity visible in Settings has been fixed with “improved handling of user preferences.”
iOS 15.8.1 and iPadOS 15.8.1 also include security fixes for the command-line tool curl, accessibility, Apple’s Neural Engine coprocessor and more.
Release notes for iOS and iPadOS 15.8.1 and 16.7.5
Apple doesn’t provide release notes for these updates as there are no new features to write about. The company separately details the security content of such releases in a dedicated support document titled “Apple security releases.”
These Apple pages detail the security fixes in iOS 15.8.1 and 16.7.5.
- About the security content of iOS 15.8.1 and iPadOS 15.8.1
- About the security content of iOS 16.7.5 and iPadOS 16.7.5
If you own a Mac that cannot be upgraded to macOS Sonoma, you can get the latest security fixes by installing macOS Monterey 12.7.3 and macOS Ventura 13.6.4.