New Delhi: Apple is rolling out fixes for a critical bug that hit Safari and other browsers, and other vulnerabilities via iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3. This is the third major update for iOS 15 that was launched in September 2021. The latest updates to iOS and iPadOS that bring fixes to security vulnerabilities and performance improvements should be available for all users worldwide and for models that are still supported.
It is important that the updates should be installed as soon as available as the Safari vulnerability, which was discovered earlier this month, allows any website using a specific JavaScript API to access the names of other databases generated by other websites during the same browsing session. According to the changelog for iOS 15.3, the update “includes bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone and is recommended for all users."
There are several other vulnerabilities that are fixed in the iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 update too, and they have been published under a list on the Apple Support page which can be accessed by clicking here.
Meanwhile, aiming to fix vulnerabilities and a potential hole in its operating system's security that relates to Homekit, Apple's Siri-powered smart home platform, Apple started rolling out iOS and iPadOS updates for iPhone and iPad users two weeks ago. The patch being rolled out to fix these issues is 15.2.1 and it is also going to fix the patch known as a denial-of-service vulnerability, the media has reported. Security researcher Trevor Spiniolas has been credited for highlighting the bug.
The Homekit bug, if exploited, could cause iPhones and iPads to encounter issues such as endless crashing, rebooting and freezing.