Apple made an uncommon determination on Wednesday, April 1, and launched a brand new model of iOS 18.7.7 to fight a brand new hacking toolkit known as DarkSword. Now, extra units, just like the iPhone 16e, can obtain the replace to guard themselves from the toolkit with out having to replace to iOS 26. This replace was solely accessible on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR fashions when it was initially launched March 24.
To obtain iOS 18.7.7, go to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace. If the replace is out there in your system, you must see a immediate to obtain and set up it.
“We enabled the supply of iOS 18.7.7 for extra units on April 1, 2026, so customers with Automated Updates turned on can routinely obtain necessary safety protections from net assaults known as DarkSword,” Apple wrote within the replace’s vulnerabilities notes.
Apple’s determination to launch this replace is odd as a result of the corporate often recommends updating your system to the newest iOS model for probably the most safety, somewhat than issuing an replace to an older model. However the firm remains to be recommending individuals obtain iOS 26 to guard their system in opposition to DarkSword.
“If potential, replace to the newest model of iOS 26, which comprises the strongest safety protections,” Apple wrote.
About one-fifth of iPhones from the previous 4 years are nonetheless working a model of iOS 18, in accordance with Apple’s personal knowledge. Which means these units are susceptible to DarkSword, which may entry knowledge in your system, like your messages and crypto wallets.
DarkSword assaults do seem like restricted to individuals outdoors the US, particularly in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Ukraine, in accordance with Google’s Menace Intelligence Group. However TechCrunch discovered the toolkit publicly accessible on GitHub. So it could possibly be simpler for extra malicious actors to deploy DarkSword.
“Public availability of this equipment is extraordinarily worrisome given the excessive variety of remaining energetic susceptible units,” Christoph Hebeisen, director of safety intelligence analysis for the agency Lookout, informed CNET’s Katelyn Chedraoui. “Opportunistic assaults utilizing this exploit equipment seem very doubtless.”
So if you cannot replace to iOS 26 as a result of your system does not help it — otherwise you simply do not wish to replace to the newest model — you must obtain iOS 18.7.7 now. Severely, please do it. And in case your cellphone does not help iOS 18, Apple suggests Lockdown Mode to maintain your system secure.
For extra iOS information, this is what to find out about iOS 26.4 and all of the suggestions and methods in iOS 26 now.
