Apple’s latest round of software updates is now being rolled out to the public. iOS 15.3 is now available to iPhone users with performance enhancements, bug fixes, and security enhancements. In addition, the iPadOS 15.3 is now available for iPad users, while the watchOS 8.4 is released on the Apple Watch.
iOS 15.3 predicts new features that favor under-hood bug fixes and improvements. One of the most notable changes here is Safari Risk Factors which may have been extracting your browsing history and Google ID data from the websites you have visited.
iOS 15.3 & iPadOS 15.3 here’s what’s new
The bug was first detected by FingerprintJS, which explains in detail how websites can use the exploits found in the IndexedDB (Javascript API used to store data) to access recently visited user URLs and retrieve a user’s Google ID and related personal data. This risk has now been released on iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3, as we first reported it would happen last week.
- iOS15.3 RC, iPadOS15.3 RC now available on iPhone or iPad
- iOS 15.2 issues When To Expect iOS 15.2.1 and iOS15.3 Beta 2
- Apple Seeds Second Public Betas Of iOS15.3 And iPadOS15.3
Apple’s release notes for iOS 15.3 are short and reach the point: “iOS 15.3 includes bug fixes and security updates for your iPhone and is recommended for all users.”
You can upgrade your iPhone to iOS 15.3 and your iPad to iPadOS 15.3 by going to the Settings app, select General, and then select Software Update. The build number for the current release of iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 is 19D50.
watchOS 8.4
Apple also launched the watchOS 8.4 for Apple Watch users today. This review also focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements. You can update your Apple Watch to watchOS 8.4 by going to the Settings app on your Apple Watch or using the Apple Watch app on your iPhone.
What’s next
With the regular updates of iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 now available to the public, Apple may start testing the iOS 15.4 beta soon. This may eventually end up being a very rich review, but only time will tell for sure.
Most notably, the long-awaited control feature is nowhere to be found. The feature, first announced at the WWDC in June, was scheduled to be released last fall, but was delayed until 2022.
Safari iOS 15.3 what’s New fixes
Today, Apple has released several updates to the new public operating system: iOS 15.3, iPadOS 15.3, macOS Monterey 12.2, watchOS 8.4, tvOS 15.3, and HomePod Software 15.3.
The review notes for this release are just a few of the ones I saw. IOS, iPadOS, and macOS simply state that the update “includes bug fixes and security updates” and is “recommended for all users.”
IOS and iPadOS 15.3 do not add new features facing the user. Instead, they fix a few important security issues. Most notable is the danger of zeroday being exploited in the wild. Traced as CVE-2022-22587, the threat stemmed from a memory corruption bug in IOMobileFrameBuffer. Cybercriminals who successfully exploit the hacker can use malicious code for kernel rights on vulnerable devices. The danger lies in macOS Monterey.
“Apple is aware of reports that the matter may have been seriously abused,” Apple said in a statement Wednesday.
macOS 12.2
Apple also amended the previously reported Safari vulnerability which allowed websites using the IndexedDB API to access information information on other websites. Note that this also affected other browsers in iOS and not just Safari (because all iOS web browsers must use WebKit). MacOS 12.2 fixes the same error in the desktop version of Safari. (Unlike iOS, there are MacOS web browsers that are unaffected.)
For a full list of security updates for iOS and iPadOS, visit the Apple support page in the article. There is the same macOS page, too.
MacOS 12.2 also ultimately makes Apple Music fully traditional and AppKit-based on macOS, and the update enhances the scrolling of Safari on Safari on Mac with 120 Hz ProMotion displays.
As for the Apple Watch update, it’s all about fixing bugs too. Clearly, watchOS 8.4 fixes a widespread problem that has prevented some Apple Watch Series 7 owners from being able to properly charge the device from certain chargers.
HomePod 15.3 update
Apple TV and HomePod software updates are also coming today. HomePod 15.3 update “adds Siri voice support to up to six home users in English (India) and Italian (Italy)” and “performance enhancement and stability.” The HomePod mini was launched in Italy and India late last year.
Apple has not published details about the tvOS update, but that update may provide performance improvements and stability under the hood, too.
Apple has been busy outside the software upgrade area this week. For months, users have been complaining to app developers about iCloud sync problems associated with error messages, “request failed with HTTP Status Code 503.” Engineers soon realized that this was a problem for Apple in the end, as many users thought the error was not a developer.
iOS 15.3 available for download & install
- This update is available online in Settings -> General -> Software Update.
- Touch Download and install.
- Provide your passcode and wait until the update has been requested, downloaded, prepared for review, verified and installed on your iPhone or iPad.
Now, developers say on Twitter and elsewhere that the iCloud Sync error appears to be fixed. Apple has not yet released a public statement on it, however.
Apple Support:Â https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213053
All of the above software updates are available on all supported devices as of today.
Apple rolls out iOS 15.3 and macOS 12.2 to fix a major Safari exploit
https://youtu.be/Dee1lDv3VFk
It’s a big day for security updates in Apple-land. The company has rolled out software fixes for just about all of its platforms, including iOS 15.3 and macOS 12.2, 9to5Mac reports. Notably, they fix the Safari vulnerability that could potentially leak your browser history, as well as your Google account information. WatchOS 8.4 and tvOS 15.2, meanwhile, add some performance improvements. And even though the company isn’t paying as much attention to its smart speakers these days, it launched HomePod 15.3, which adds Siri support for up to six users speaking English in India, or Italian in Italy. (That’s a feature Apple started offering in the US back in 2019.)
While we normally wouldn’t stress minor software updates much, iOS and macOS users should deal with that Safari vulnerability as soon as they can. Sure, there aren’t any major threats taking advantage of that now, but who knows what malware could pop up in the next month or two.
