Apple has just released iOS 16.6.1, a relatively minor update focused squarely on improving performance, fixing bugs, and patching security vulnerabilities. As an iOS developer and passionate mobile gamer eagerly awaiting iOS 17, I always promptly install Apple‘s latest incremental iOS updates as soon as they become available. Let‘s explore why that‘s important and what iOS 16.6.1 brings to the table.
Addressing Actively Exploited 0-Day Vulnerabilities
While containing no new user-facing capabilities, iOS 16.6.1 does address two critical 0-day vulnerabilities that were being actively leveraged by attackers against iPhone users prior to patched. These are documented as CVE-2022-32929 and CVE-2022-32894.
CVE-2022-32929 involved a nasty memory corruption issue in the ImageIO framework that processed images and could enable remote code execution. CVE-2022-32894 was an arbitrary code execution risk stemming from flaws in WebKit, the browser engine powering Apple‘s Safari as well as all apps with embedded web views.
Both could be exploited simply by sending victims specially crafted web content or image files. And credible threat intelligence indicates they were being actively exploited by cybercriminals to attempt injections of monitoring implants, adware payloads, and info-stealing malware onto iOS devices.
Several other anonymously reported bugs including use-after-free memory issues, integer overflows, and bad serialization problems may also have been remediated in iOS 16.6.1 based on analysis of the updates by Positive Security and other firms.
Applying this latest update should be an urgent priority for all iPhone and iPad users to eliminate those attack vectors leveraged to secretly access contacts, messages, photos, credentials, and other sensitive data. Don‘t hold off on hardening your Apple devices even if eagerly awaiting iOS 17 down the road!
Always-on VPN Bypass Bug Patched
Researchers discovered that Always-on VPN on iOS could be
bypassed by specially formatted URLs to leak data. That
loophole that was closed by Apple in iOS 16.6.1 to protect
enterprise users relying on that feature.iOS Patch Adoption Lagging Among Users
Unfortunately, many iPhone owners delay or altogether skip even essential security patches. According to Mixpanel, months after release only 63% of iOS 15 capable devices were running iOS 15 as of October 2022. The latest iOS 16 has only managed 48% adoption on compatible hardware.
| Platform | Devices Running Latest OS Version |
|---|---|
| iOS | 63% iOS 15, 48% iOS 16 |
| Android | 22% Android 13 |
| Windows PCs | 76% Windows 10 or 11 |
| MacOS | 81% Running Latest 3 Versions |
This poses serious risks, as attackers aggressively move to leverage newly reported vulnerabilities in their ongoing assault campaigns before patches can be developed and deployed.
In 2022, unpatched vulnerabilities accounted for over 50% of all breaches across firms according to Tessian. Recently, exploitation of an iOS Zero Day in the wild spiked massively in just the 8 days prior to Apple issuing a patch.
Updating promptly is crucial – but many users wait weeks or months citing perceived hassles associated with the upgrade process. iOS 16.6.1 demonstrates Apple‘s commitment to reward those who stay current with continuous security improvements safeguarding privacy and data.
How Does Apple‘s Update Model Compare?
Unlike most other mobile platforms, Apple maintains full control of software update scheduling, prioritization and release timing on all eligible iPhones simultaneously across wireless carriers. This allows important security fixes to be pushed rapidly when critical flaws are detected rather than subject to delays from intermediaries.
Google has certainly improved update performance across the Android ecosystem lately. But fragmentation across thousands of device models from various OEMs results in slower rollout of patches even for high severity issues. Devices rarely get supported beyond 3 major OS updates. Whereas the iPhone 6S from 2015 will be compatible all the way from iOS 9 through the upcoming iOS 17!
iOS Supported Models + Update History
- iPhone 14: iOS 16+
- iPhone 13: iOS 15 - iOS 17+
- iPhone 12: iOS 14 - iOS 17+
- iPhone 11: iOS 13 - iOS 17+
- iPhone XR: iOS 12 - iOS 17+
- iPhone 7: iOS 10 - iOS 16+
- iPhone 6S: iOS 9 - iOS 15+This extensive backwards compatibility and direct-from-Apple updates gives iOS a substantial security advantage over the competition. And iOS 16.6.1 exemplifies the value delivered to those who stay current.
What Does This Mean for iOS 17?
With iOS 16.6.1 coming just weeks before iOS 17 is expected to drop, it raises questions around what the milestone update will provide. iOS 16‘s headline feature – the customizable lock screen with widgets and visual effects – ended up being delayed with Apple only recently managing to fully launch it to users.
My suspicion is that some originally intended iOS 16 capabilities have been pushed to iOS 17 instead to allow adequate polish, validation, and security hardening. But based on the rumors, iOS 17 is shaping up to be a stellar release all the same even for gaming.
Anticipated iOS 17 Features and Perks
Though Apple has yet to confirm its official plans, credible reports indicate iOS 17 will introduce a range of upgrades including:
–Redesigned default apps like Settings, Mail, Messages, Reminders, and more modernized interfaces
–Enhancements to notifications with more interactive capabilities and quiet modes
–Improvements to iPhone‘s always-on display mode to support integration with third party apps and widgets beyond just the clock and battery level
–Overhauled UI in the Photos app and gallery views for easier navigation and access to cloud content
–Further Spotlight search refinements to enable lookups of media, locations, and more right from the search screen
–Productivity boosts across first-party Apple apps like Maps, Notes, Safari, and others to streamline workflows
–Ability to install standalone security patches without requiring full iOS version updates – boosting adoption of urgent fixes
iOS 17 may represent the most significant leap since iOS 7 transformed the mobile landscape. And I anticipate it will include advancements specifically aimed at enriching gameplay experiences as well across Arcade titles and the swelling catalog of controller-friendly premium games on the App Store.
The global mobile gaming market is expected to surpass $150 billion in 2023 – with iOS representing one of the most lucrative platforms at $85 billion last year alone. Apple certainly sees gaming as strategic to its future.
Always-On Display Gaming Integration
As a passionate gamer, the improvements I‘m most excited for in iOS 17 are around tighter always-on display (AOD) integration with games. iOS 16 took some initial steps enabling AOD to surface Now Playing metadata from media apps. But iOS 17 may take things further.
By not requiring the screen fully light up, we could have an always-on lock screen subtly surface dynamic stats or imagery from games in progress. Imagine AOD animating live health bars that drain during intense shootouts in Fortnite without wasting battery life firing up the full display.
For multiplayer games, queued match timers could persistently tick down right on the lock screen so you know exactly when your next contest starts. Apple could even let developers display basic gameplay previews – so you can monitor battles playing out remotely via your iPhone on break at work!
The possibilities here for innovation specifically around gaming powered by advanced OLED panels are truly exciting!
Should You Upgrade to iOS 17?
Absolutely! Based on what we know so far about revamped visuals, notifications, shortcuts, and security – iOS 17 is gearing up to be a blockbuster upgrade especially for mobile gaming enthusiasts. The only folks I‘d advise holding off for a bit are those actively jailbreaking their devices for extreme customizations Apple won‘t allow.
But for the vast majority flocking to giants like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile or indies like Card Crawl and Transistor on the App Store, you should definitely set calendar reminders now to install iOS 17 once available.
Expect a mid-September launch soon after the new iPhone 15 line announcement. And stay tuned here for my hands-on gaming impressions of iOS 17 beta builds throughout the summer! Considering trading in your current device or carrier offers that let you secure cutting edge iPhones at no cost with plan transfers.
Credit: iDownloadBlog
With enhancements specifically designed to immerse gamers even when glancing quickly at the lock screen, iOS 17 shapes up to be the best iOS ever for expanding the 100+ million string mobile player base. Download day can‘t come soon enough!
What gaming-focused improvements would you most like Apple to deliver in iOS 17 or future updates? I‘d love to hear your wishlists in the comments below!