Apple has issued an urgent security update that every iPhone owner must install to guard against a dangerous new hacking method known as ‘DarkSword.’ This exploit, actively used by cybercriminal groups, targets data and cryptocurrency theft by compromising vulnerable devices.
The threat primarily affects iPhones running iOS 18, which remain susceptible to attacks due to a lack of protective patches. Apple’s latest iOS 26, released in September, already safeguards users against the DarkSword exploit. However, many users have delayed upgrading, leaving themselves exposed.
To address this, Apple is releasing an updated version of iOS 18 with security fixes specifically designed to block the DarkSword attack. iPhones on iOS 18 with automatic updates enabled will receive this patch automatically. Users without auto-update can choose to upgrade to the patched iOS 18 version or move directly to iOS 26, which provides the most robust protection.
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An Apple spokesperson emphasized the importance of this update: “Tomorrow we are enabling the availability of an iOS 18 update for more devices so users with auto-update enabled can automatically receive important security protections. We encourage all users with supported devices to update to iOS 26 to receive our most advanced protections.”
The response from the Apple community has been mixed, with some questioning why Apple didn’t release earlier fixes for iOS 18 and criticizing the update strategy. Security expert Patrick Wardle, former NSA hacker and CEO of DoubleYou, highlighted the urgency: “If protecting users actually matters, backporting critical fixes should be standard, not the exception.”
Given the active exploitation of DarkSword, Apple iPhone users should prioritize installing these updates immediately to secure their devices from potential attacks.