Shocker: Experts discover major security flaw on Apple devices ahead of new iPhone launch

*The global tech company has released a patch, and directs users to update their devices as soon as possible

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Right on the very day one of the ‘Big Techs’ had planned to roll out its new-fangled iPhone, Apple instead has been stunned by the discovery, that cyberattackers may have found a way to worm their way into an array of Apple-made products from the iPad to the Apple Watch.

ConsumerConnect gathered the global technology company is on the case, actively patching two vulnerabilities in its software that allows hackers to take command of its devices.

Apple Headquarters

An inventive bunch, those cyber thugs — Apple confirmed that an attacker could actually trigger an iOS-run device to run deviant computer code, such as downloading a malicious program from the Internet onto the user’s device, according to report.

RELATED: Apple’s New Iphone With Faster A15 Chip Ready For Launch

This is said to be Apple’s second major security flaw in as many months.

What to look for, fix in your device(s)

One way an attack can happen comes via iMessage, where the attacker sends a mischievous Portable Document Format (PDF), PCMag said in coverage of the situation.

Security analysts at Citizen Lab have concluded that the attackers use the vulnerability to spread the Pegasus —a particularly nasty spyware programme — which can clandestinely take over an iPhone.

Likewise, researchers at Citizen Lab also discovered that suspicious animated GIFs masquerading as Adobe PDFs are also able to exploit Apple’s flaw.

RELATED Apple Warns Users To Instantly Install Update To Counter Serious Security Flaw

Like Apple, this is also Adobe’s second recent run-in with security issues —the first coming in mid-August 2021, when it found a vulnerability in its iOS and Windows versions of Photoshop.

At the time, it was learnt Apple immediately released a system software update designed to patch the issue.

The company is advising owners of Apple devices to update them immediately, report stated.

READ ALSO: Apple Announces Software Update On ‘Important’ Fixes For iphones, ipads, Others

Below is a list of the devices affected by the breach, and links to the security update.

Consumers are encouraged to also follow Apple’s suggested method for updating the system software on their devices.

Security Update Link                                 Apple Product

Safari 14.1.2                                                macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave

Security Update 2021-005 Catalina            macOS Catalina

macOS Big Sur 11.6                                   macOS Big Sur

watchOS 7.6.2                                            Apple Watch Series 3 and later

iOS 14.8 and iPadOS 14.8                         iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and                                                                        later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation)

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