Apple has upped its security game with a new service that will push critical security updates to users faster.
Unveiled during WWDC 2022, the new Rapid Security Response, which is being prepared for iPhones, iPads and Mac endpoints (opens in new tab)will help ensure the latest updates are deployed faster than ever before.
While details are scarce, we know that Apple will no longer bundle security updates with full system patches and that they will not require a device restart to take effect.
security fast response
Typically, iOS and macOS device owners would have to wait for a full system patch to get improved security on their devices. Not only does this take a lot of time, but many users refrain from installing these updates altogether.
With Rapid Security Response, however, major updates “can be applied automatically between standard software updates.”
Another important change is that some updates will no longer require the device to be restarted, but will take effect as soon as they are installed.
According to MacRumors, the feature is already available in the iOS 16 developer beta, under the Automatic Updates section. In the section there is a new toggle whose explanation says that “some updates may only take effect when you restart your iPhone”, the keyword in this sentence being – some.
Apple has also introduced a unique safety feature called Safety Check, which allows abuse victims to quickly and transparently sever all ties with their abusers. Among other things, Safety Check allows users to remotely disable messages on secondary devices or disable location tracking.
Face ID, a feature that allows Apple device owners to unlock their devices with their faces rather than passwords or fingerprints, has also been updated to support landscape mode. So far, the feature has been confirmed to work on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.