Apple releases iOS 26.2 within days of issuing attack warnings to iPhone users around the world.
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Apple is about to release its next iPhone update. It has just furnished a second release candidate to beta testers, and the public release comes within days, maybe even hours. But Apple’s other major iPhone update in recent days is just as critical.
Both Apple and Google have just sent “cyber threat notifications to users around world.” These are triggered by mercenary, commercial spyware targeting new vulnerabilities in both iOS and Android to target specific individuals with sophisticated attacks.
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“Such attacks are vastly more complex than regular cybercriminal activity and consumer malware,” Apple says, “as mercenary spyware attackers apply exceptional resources to target a very small number of specific individuals and their devices.”
A very small number of users are hit by these attacks. But each time one of these flaws is exploited, it’s a hole in the walls protecting your device and your data. Just days after issuing this latest cyber warning, Apple will update a billion-plus iPhones.
There should be no hesitation on any user’s part. Update your iphone as soon as the release shows in Settings > General > Software Update. And while the debate still rages as to whether you should update to iOS 26 or stick with iOS 18, the answer is simple. Unless there’s a very good reason, if you can move to iOS 26 you really should.
Apple will likely take that decision out of your hands soon anyway. But you shouldn’t have left it this late. iOS 18 is still being patched, but it’s not as secure as iOS 26. And you should make the move. Apart from anything else, iOS 26 delivers anti-scam and anti-fraud features that have been missing on iPhone until now.
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iOS 26.2 also delivers new AirDrop security and new emergency alerts. It will also fix a raft of security flaws and vulnerabilities, some of which will likely be critical.
Expect iOS 26.2 within the next few days — it may even come later today.