iOS Users: Don’t Upgrade to 13… Just Yet!

 SMU iOS users can update to iOS 13. This news item was published in September 2019, is now outdated, and is preserved for historical reference only.

Just wait on iOS 13The newest version of iOS 13 is out now, and it looks like the number 13 might not be a lucky number for Apple. According to Inc., the Department of Defense (DOD) sent an email last night “strongly encouraging” both its employees and contractors not to upgrade their iPhones to iOS 13, but rather to wait for the next release, iOS 13.1, to update their devices. Continue reading iOS Users: Don’t Upgrade to 13… Just Yet!

Update your iPhones Now!

iOS 9.3.5 UpdateYesterday, Apple released the iOS 9.3.5 update. You need to install it now. Yes, right now! You can read the rest of this while your iPhone is updating.

We don’t usually push for people to update their devices so firmly, but a major security hole was found that would allow nefarious types to “read text messages and emails and track calls and contacts. It can even record sounds, collect passwords and trace the whereabouts of the phone user.” according to the New York Times.

In fact, Lookout security researcher Mike Murray stated “We realized that we were looking at something that no one had ever seen in the wild before.” in an interview with Motherboard. “Literally a click on a link to jailbreak an iPhone in one step. One of the most sophisticated pieces of cyberespionage software we’ve ever seen.”

On the plus side, Apple just released a patch to fix this massive security hole, and, if you haven’t already, you should download and install it immediately. We also recommend installing the update on any other iOS devices you may have, such as an iPad 2 and even an iPod touch (5th generation).

For information on the security content of Apple software updates, please visit this website: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201222

For more information on the Zero-Day exploit and how it was used against a UAE Human Rights Defender, please visit Citizen Lab.

If you have any problems or concerns, please contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP (4357)

Security Holes in iOS 9 Patched with Update

iOS HomescreenApple just released the iOS 9.3.3 update, the final version for iOS 9 before the new iOS 10 this fall. For this reason, Apple allowed for extra testing time taking over two months with five separate betas to ensure the OS is as secure and stable as possible. With this update, Apple patches security holes in iOS 9‘s Calendar, CoreGraphics, FaceTime, and Safari apps. Each of these fixes addresses the ability for hackers to run unauthorized code or expose private information. Continue reading Security Holes in iOS 9 Patched with Update