Last week the news broke that two big security flaws had been discovered, named Meltdown and Spectre. These vulnerabilities are present in the majority of computing devices worldwide – including iPhones, iPads, and Macs – and could potentially expose your data to hackers.
Apple was quick to release software updates to tackle Meltdown, the simpler of the two flaws, and if you took our advice a few days ago you will have already updated to iOS 11.2 for the essential security update within.
Now, a second update has been hurried out to offer further fixes for the Spectre vulnerability. iOS 11.2.2 includes new security updates for Safari, as Spectre is particularly susceptible to malicious web-based content.
Apple says this security update is “recommended for all users,” and we agree. Though no exploits for these flaws are currently known, that may not remain the case for long so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Open the Settings app and choose General > Software Update to check for the latest version of iOS. Updating is a relatively painless process, but you’ll want to ensure you have a decent Wi-Fi connection and at least 50% battery before tapping Download and Install.
If you have a Mac or an Apple TV, we advise you to update to the latest software on those devices too for similar security fixes.