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Update to iOS 9.3 right now to fix a serious iPhone security flaw

Published Mar 23rd, 2016 11:34AM EDT
iOS Security Flaw

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We’ve already given you so many reasons to update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 9.3 when we showed you all the best new features in Apple’s latest mobile OS update. We also told you how to fix the coolest new iOS 9.3 feature if it’s not working properly for you. For whatever reason, some people still aren’t convinced, so now it’s time to see if fear is a better motivator than the promise of great new features.

If you don’t update to iOS 9.3 right now, your iPhone or iPad will remain exposed by a serious security flaw that could allow hackers to steal photos, videos and other files that you send or receive through iMessage.

DON’T MISS: The 5 best things about Apple’s new iPhone SE – and the 2 worst things

Apple’s iOS platform has a few major advantages over devices powered by Google’s Android software, and the instant availability of updates is somewhere near the top of the list. As Apple CEO Tim Cook noted while speaking on stage during a press conference on Monday, about 90% of all iOS devices in the world run a version of iOS 9 while less than 2% of Android devices run the latest available version of Google’s mobile platform.

iOS 9.3 was first released on Monday following Apple’s big iPhone SE and iPad Pro unveiling, and tens of millions of people have already updated their devices. If you’re not among them, you need to be — Apple’s new iOS update fixes a major security flaw that was discovered recently by security researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

In a nutshell, the researchers found that photos, videos and other files sent via iMessage could be intercepted by hackers. iMessage conversations are encrypted, but they found a hole in that encryption that allows it to be broken.

It is unclear if this vulnerability had been previously discovered and exploited by hackers, but there’s only one way to ensure you’re safe: download and install iOS 9.3 right now. If you’re unclear on how to update, this post explains the simple process.

Zach Epstein
Zach Epstein Executive Editor

Zach Epstein has been the Executive Editor at BGR for more than 10 years. He manages BGR’s editorial team and ensures that best practices are adhered to. He also oversees the Ecommerce team and directs the daily flow of all content. Zach first joined BGR in 2007 as a Staff Writer covering business, technology, and entertainment.

His work has been quoted by countless top news organizations, and he was recently named one of the world's top 10 “power mobile influencers” by Forbes. Prior to BGR, Zach worked as an executive in marketing and business development with two private telcos.