Not Ready for iOS 18? Apple Releases iOS 17.7 to Keep You Safe
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While today’s big event for Apple fans is the release of iOS 18, some folks may be understandably cautious about jumping into a major iPhone software update on day one. Thankfully, Apple recognizes this, and it’s released iOS 17.7 alongside iOS 18.
While iOS 17.7 doesn’t add any new features — that’s what iOS 18 is for — it’s a significant point release that includes all the security fixes that Apple is also rolling into its major iOS 18 update.
Unlike last year’s release of iOS 17, Apple isn’t leaving behind any iPhone models behind this year; every iPhone that can run iOS 17 can be updated to iOS 18, so there’s no need to install iOS 17.7 unless you’d rather sit out the iOS 18 update for now to see how it unfolds.
While we’ve been running the iOS 18 betas for three months without any problems, your mileage may vary, and there’s no reason to rush in if you’re nervous — and that’s especially true if you’re using an older device. If past years are any indication, we’ll likely see an iOS 18.0.1 release in a week or two to polish up any problems in the iOS 18.0 release, and iOS 18.1 won’t be far behind, either.
Nevertheless, if you’re in the “wait and see” camp on iOS 18, then iOS 17.7 is for you. There’s not much going on that could break anything or cause new problems, but there are some vital security fixes here that you won’t want to miss out on.
The same holds even more true for iPadOS 17.7, which represents the likely end of the road for several iPad models, including the sixth-generation iPad, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and second-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
According to Apple’s security update notes, iOS 17.7 and iPadOS 17.7 fix 16 known security vulnerabilities, including kernel problems that could allow network traffic to leak outside a VPN tunnel or allow apps to access the Bluetooth radios without proper authorization. A privacy issue in the Mail Accounts framework could potentially allow apps to get access to a user’s contacts, and a vulnerability in Safari Private Browsing could allow tabs to be accessed without authentication. Those are just the tip of the iceberg.
The only good news is that none of these appear to have been actively exploited — or, at least if they have, Apple isn’t aware of it. However, that’s no reason to breathe easy; now that all of these vulnerabilities have been published, every hacker knows about them and will be looking for ways to use them against iPhone and iPad users who haven’t applied the iOS 17.7 and iPadOS 17.7 updates (or iOS/iPadOS 18).
It’s this reason, more than any other, that makes it essential to install software updates as soon as they become available. Apple has to disclose the security problems it fixes, but in doing so, it provides a shopping list that hackers can use to attack the older versions.
In short, iOS 17.6 is now more vulnerable than ever because now everyone knows about the security flaws it contains.
That’s precisely why Apple has released iOS 17.7 and iPadOS 17.7, plus equivalent macOS Sonoma 14.7 and macOS Ventura 13.7 updates for those Mac users stuck on those older versions or don’t want to upgrade to Sequoia yet. It’s too much to require folks to undergo a significant upgrade just to keep their devices secure this early in the game. Thankfully, these more stable point releases ensure that your device is safe and secure without interrupting your life nearly as much.
