Why Apple wants you to update your iPhone, iPad now

(NEXSTAR) – Amid reports of powerful spyware targeting iPhones, Apple is urging users to update their devices as soon as possible.

On Wednesday, researchers said they had found malware that can get into and take information from iPhones. Reuters reported that researchers determined the malware, dubbed “DarkSword,” was impacting iPhone users with iOS versions 18.4 to 18.6.2 who had visited one of dozens of Ukrainian websites.

iOS 18 was released in late 2024, with updates throughout 2025. The current iOS system is 26, which was released last fall.

Earlier this month, Google and mobile security firm iVerify found another spyware, Coruna, that had previously been connected to a suspected Russian espionage group. That “powerful exploit kit” was found to be impacting iPhones running on iOS 13 to 17.2.1, released in 2019 and 2023, respectively.

Apple has long warned that keeping devices updated is the best way to prevent malware impacts. In a statement to NBC News, a spokesperson reaffirmed this, saying that installing software updates as they become available “remains the single most important thing users can do to maintain the high security of their Apple devices.”

On Tuesday, Apple released iOS updates for iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The updates — iOS 26.3.1, iPadOS 26.3.1, macOS 26.3.1, and macOS 26.3.2 — are for “background security improvements,” according to Apple.

As NBC News reported, Apple also last week pushed out an update for older iPhone devices that aren’t able to get iOS 26 (generally, that’s devices older than iPhone 11). The update notes for iOS 15.8.7 and iPadOS 15.8.7 say the security content brings the fix for the Coruna exploit “to devices that cannot update to the latest iOS version.”

Typically, there are no updates made available to Apple devices, sometimes labeled “vintage,” that cannot support the current iOS.

How to update your iPhone, other Apple devices

On your iPhone or iPad, you need to go to Settings, then General, then Software Update.

If you have not gotten the latest software update, you’ll see release notes and a button to start the installation. If you are up-to-date — 26.3.1 for iPhones and iPads, as of March 19 — you need not take any action.

While on that screen, you may opt to turn on automatic updates.

On Macs, you can search “Software Update” using Spotlight, or go to the System Settings under the Apple menu, then General, then Software Update.

Once there, you will be told whether or not there’s a software update available to download. If there is, you can click Update, Upgrade, or Restart Now to begin installing it. Your Mac should be on macOS 26.3.1 or macOS 26.3.2.

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