Apple released its first Rapid Security Response (RSR) patches for devices running iOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1 yesterday. However, shortly after the release, some users reported problems installing them on their iPhones, which later appears to have been fixed .
As the company describes in a recent support document, RSR patches are small updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that fix security issues between major software updates.
Some of these emergency security updates can also be used to address vulnerabilities that are actively used in attacks.
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“They provide important security improvements between software updates – for example, improvements to the Safari web browser, the WebKit framework stack, or other critical system libraries,” Apple explains. “They may also be used to mitigate certain security issues more quickly, such as issues that may have been exploited.”
How to install Apple's Rapid Security Response (RSR) patches?
iPhone or iPad
Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates, then make sure that the “Security Responses & System Files” option is enabled.
Mac
Choose Apple menu > System Settings . Click “ General ” in the sidebar, then click “ Software Update ” on the right. Click the “ Show Details ” button next to “ Automatic Updates ,” then make sure “ Install Security Responses and system files ” is turned on.
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If you disable automatic updates or decline to install Rapid Security Response patches when offered, your device will receive the security updates as part of a future software upgrade.
Installation problems
According to user reports, there were issues installing the first RSR updates released yesterday for iPhones, due to “Unable to Verify Security Response” errors.
The error message users saw stated that the problem was due to a lack of internet connection, which was not the case.
However, later on, the installation process started working smoothly, applying the update within about 30 seconds on all available devices.
It's worth noting that Apple hasn't revealed the exact fixes that these first Rapid Security Response (RSR) patches bring to iPhones and Macs. The only information shared on the update screen is that "This Rapid Security Response provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users. To learn more, visit: https://support.apple.com/HT201224."
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However, the page linked to in the release notes is the support page published this week to explain what Rapid Security Responses are, which does not provide additional details about the vulnerabilities being fixed.
However, security updates are not just an extra step we need to take. They are essential to ensure the protection of our personal data and to prevent unauthorized access to our system. Therefore, make sure that you apply any new update that addresses security issues to your device.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
