You Should Update Your iPhone Right Now
Just today, Apple released an update to bring iOS up to version 9.3.5. You should go download it now, because it contains an important security fix.
The update comes after Ahmed Mansoor-a human rights activist located in the United Arab Emirates-had his iPhone 6 hacked through the use of a trio of previously unknown exploits which allowed attackers to jailbreak and then spy on his phone remotely.
According to Lookout, a mobile security firm:
The attack allows an adversary to silently jailbreak an iOS device and stealthily spy on victims, collecting information from apps including Gmail, Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Calendar, FaceTime, Line, Mail.Ru, and others.
The good news is that this is not an everyday hacker's weapon. Exploits like the ones used in this attack are rare, and information about them can go for millions of dollars on the black market. The hackers behind the attack on Mansoor are well-financed-perhaps backed by the United Arab Emirates-and are likely to concentrate on high-value targets like, say, anyone but you.
Still, the fix is out there and easy to grab, so just go to Settings > General > Software Update, and take care of it right away.
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