Apple released iOS 18.6.2 on Aug. 20 to patch a zero-day vulnerability Apple said may have been used in an "extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals." If you're an iPhone user, you should download this update as soon as possible -- preferably right now.
You can download iOS 18.6.2 by going to Settings, then tapping General. Next, select Software Update, then tap Update Now and follow the prompts on your screen.
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According to Apple, the issue was found in Image I/O, a framework that lets applications read and write most image formats. "Processing a malicious image file may result in memory corruption," Apple wrote online.
The important update, which fixes a critical security flaw, comes a few weeks before iOS 26's expected release.
While you may not be the target of this attack, it's still important to update your device to protect it and its data.
Here are the full release notes for iOS 18.6.2.
This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users.
For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website:
For more iOS news, here are my first impressions of the beta version of iOS 26, how to enable call screening in the beta and all the new features Apple said it will bring to your device later this year. You can get an early view of the upcoming iPhone features with our iOS 26 cheat sheet.
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