Apple cautions users as security loophole allows hackers to control all iPhones and Macs
Apple has instructed all users to upgrade their iPhones, iPads, and Macs after the company has detected serious security loopholes that could potentially enable hackers to obtain full access to their devices.
The models concerned include the iPhone 6th and the 5th generation, and later, all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2, and Mac computers operating MacOS Monterey.
According to two security reports issued by Apple, a vulnerability was found in the WebKit, the browser engine that powers Safari and other apps, while the second defect was detected in the kernel, the backbone of the operating system.
The first report indicated that hackers might exploit the loophole in the Webkit if a sensitive device treated malicious web content, leading to the execution of arbitrary code.
The second report noted that hackers could exploit the vulnerability in the kernel by executing arbitrary code with kernel privileges, allowing full access to devices.
Security experts have warned affected Apple device users to update their devices as soon as possible to avoid giving full control of their devices to hackers.
While Apple did not comment further on the security loopholes, the company sent updates to the affected models, indicating that the latest update provides significant security updates and is recommended to all users.