Last week, Apple released a new type of update for iPhone users called Rapid Security Responses. It is something you should install as soon as you see it.

Rapid Security Responses are new and will be available (when necessary) for iOS, iPad OS and Mac OS.

According to Apple, they are designed to deliver important security updates between software updates.

Apple’s regular software updates might include new features, tweaks to existing features and security fixes. Rapid Security Responses can be used to “mitigate some security issues more quickly, such as issues that might have been exploited or reported to exist 'in the wild.'”

The Rapid Security Responses are only sent out to users who are using the latest versions of their device’s operating system. That means you’ll need to be on iOS and iPad OS 16.4.1 or Mac OS 13.3.1 to get the new updates.

This is a good time to make sure you have automatic software updates turned on, which will enable the Rapid Security Responses to be installed when they are delivered.

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then General, then Software Update and then Automatic Updates.

On the Automatic Updates page, you'll see the following options: Download iOS (or iPadOS) Updates, Install iOS (or iPadOS) Updates and to automatically install Security Responses & System Files. Make sure all three are turned on.

On the Mac, go to the Apple Menu and choose System Settings. Click General in the sidebar, then choose Software Update on the right. Click the Show Details button next to Automatic Updates and the options for downloading and installing updates are turned on.

The addition of the Rapid Security Response update changes the version number of the operating system to include a letter. Last week’s update changed the iOS version to 16.4.1 (a).

If you choose to not allow Rapid Security Responses to automatically install, the update will be included in the next larger software update.

As for what exactly is patched with last week’s Rapid Security Response update, Apple isn’t saying. They say the update is recommended for all users and that it applies important security fixes.

 - TNS