Apple releases iOS 26.2 within days of issuing attack warnings to iPhone users worldwide.
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Apple is about to release its next iPhone update. You just provided a second release candidate to beta testers, and the public release is coming in a few days, maybe even a few hours. But Apple’s other major iPhone update in recent days is equally critical.
Both Apple and Google just sent “cyber threat notifications to users around the world.” These are triggered by mercenary commercial spyware that targets new vulnerabilities in both iOS and Android to target specific individuals with sophisticated attacks.
“These attacks are much more complex than typical cybercriminal activity and consumer malware,” Apple says, “as mercenary spyware attackers apply exceptional resources to attack a very small number of targeted people and their devices.”
These attacks affect a very small number of users. But every time one of these flaws is exploited, it creates a hole in the walls protecting your device and your data. Just days after issuing this latest cyber warning, Apple will update more than one billion iPhones.
There should be no doubts on the part of any user. Update your iPhone as soon as the version appears in Settings > General > Software Update. And while there’s still debate over whether you should upgrade to iOS 26 or stick with iOS 18, the answer is simple. Unless there’s a very good reason, if you can upgrade to iOS 26, you should.
Regardless, Apple will likely soon take that decision out of your hands. But you shouldn’t have left it so late. iOS 18 is still being patched, but it’s not as secure as iOS 26. And you should make the decision. Apart from anything else, iOS 26 offers anti-scam and anti-fraud features that were missing from the iPhone until now.
iOS 26.2 also offers new AirDrop security and new emergency alerts. It will also fix a number of security flaws and vulnerabilities, some of which will likely be critical.
Expect iOS 26.2 in the coming days; it may even arrive later today.
