New Delhi: Due to the widespread use of iPhones globally, with over 1.46 billion users, including approximately 40 million in India, Apple’s iOS has become a prime target for cyberattacks. Recognizing the severity of this issue, the Indian government has issued a cautionary alert. The warning specifically targets users of Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 16.7.1, emphasizing the potential risks associated with these operating systems.
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), operating under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, has identified the vulnerable devices. These include iPhone 8 and newer models, all iPad Pro versions, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 5th generation and later, as well as iPad mini 5th generation and later.
CERT-In’s report outlines multiple vulnerabilities present in Apple iOS and iPadOS, which cybercriminals can exploit to gain control over users’ devices and pilfer private and sensitive data. Although Apple regularly releases updates to enhance security measures, a significant number of users neglect to update their devices. Reasons for this oversight range from convenience issues to concerns about storage space and timing conflicts. Consequently, failing to update iPhones or iPads could leave these devices susceptible to potential security breaches.
