Apple has issued a fresh warning to iPhone users about mercenary spyware attacks exploiting vulnerabilities in older versions of iOS. The company urges all users to upgrade to the latest operating system immediately, as simply staying on iOS 18, even if fully updated, is no longer sufficient for newer devices.
For iPhones capable of running iOS 26, the upgrade involves a reboot as part of the installation process. This restart is not just routine maintenance but a key element of Apple's security response. Users who have already updated to iOS 26.2 or iOS 18.7.3 (for devices that cannot upgrade further) are in a much safer position.
Analysts estimate that more than half of all iPhones eligible for iOS 26 have not yet upgraded, leaving hundreds of millions of devices potentially vulnerable. Cybersecurity agencies, including France's ANSSI and the US National Security Agency, recommend fully powering down smartphones at least once a week to stop non-persistent spyware running in memory.
Best practice involves manually powering down using physical buttons, waiting 30 seconds, then restarting. While restarting does not replace a software update, it is an essential habit for those running outdated firmware. Apple confirms that recent attacks use zero-click exploits, which require no user action and can be delivered via apps like iMessage.
