Mar 31, 2026 8:49 PM

Apple Will Push Out Rare ‘Backported’ Patches to Protect iOS 18 Users From DarkSword Hacking Tool

As DarkSword spreads, Apple tells WIRED it will enable iOS 18-specific fixes for millions of iPhone owners who remain on that iOS version rather than force them to update to iOS 26.

Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images

When it comes to iOS, Apple has largely maintained a take-it-or-leave-it approach to security updates. Want the software patches Apple creates to fix the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers to compromise iPhones? Then the company would tell you to update your phone to the latest version of iOS your hardware can handle—with no room for lingering on an older version just because you enjoy its retro look or familiar features.

You’ve read your last free article.

The intersection of technology, power, and culture. Start your free trial and get access to 5 all-new premium newsletters—cancel anytime.

START FREE TRIAL

Already a subscriber? Sign In

The intersection of technology, power, and culture. Start your free trial and get access to 5 all-new premium newsletters START FREE TRIAL

Comments

There aren’t any comments yet.

Be the first to start the conversation!
You need an account to add or like comments.

In your inbox: Will Knight's AI Lab explores advances in AI
‘Flying cars’ will take off this summer
Big Story: Inside OpenAI’s race to catch up to Claude Code
How ‘Handala’ became the face of Iran’s hacker counterattacks
Listen: Nvidia’s ‘Super Bowl of AI,’ and Tesla disappoints

Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for WIRED covering hacking, cybersecurity, and surveillance. He’s the author of the books Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Cryptocurrency and Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers. His books ... Read More

Senior Writer

Topicsapple ios iPhone hacks malware Russia hacking cybersecurity

Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild

A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers. It can take over devices running iOS 18 that simply visit infected websites.

Andy Greenberg

A Possible US Government iPhone-Hacking Toolkit Is Now in the Hands of Foreign Spies and Criminals

A highly sophisticated set of iPhone hijacking techniques has likely infected tens of thousands of phones or more. Clues suggest it was originally built for the US government.

Andy Greenberg

Iranian Hackers Breached Kash Patel’s Email—but Not the FBI’s

Plus: Apple makes big claims about the effectiveness of its Lockdown Mode anti-spyware feature, Russia moves to implement homegrown encryption for 5G, and more.

Andrew Couts

US Takes Down Botnets Used in Record-Breaking Cyberattacks

The Aisuru, Kimwolf, JackSkid, and Mossad botnets had infected more than 3 million devices in total, many inside home networks, according to the US Justice Department.

Andy Greenberg

Every iPhone Backup Option You Need to Know About

Save your memories now, because if your iPhone gets stolen or lost, your photos and other precious files could be gone forever.

Simon Hill

A Hacker Accidentally Broke Into the FBI’s Epstein Files

Plus: A porn-quitting app exposed the masturbation habits of hundreds of thousands of users, Russian hackers are trying to take over people’s Signal accounts, and more.

Maddy Varner

How ‘Handala’ Became the Face of Iran’s Hacker Counterattacks

Amid a paralyzing breach of medical tech firm Stryker, the group has come to represent Iran's use of “hacktivism” as cover for chaotic, retaliatory state-sponsored cyberattacks.

Matt Burgess

How Vulnerable Are Computers to an 80-Year-Old Spy Technique? Congress Wants Answers

A pair of US lawmakers are calling for an investigation into how easily spies can steal information based on devices’ electromagnetic and acoustic leaks—a spying trick the NSA once codenamed TEMPEST.

Andy Greenberg

From Ukraine to Iran, Hacking Security Cameras Is Now Part of War’s ‘Playbook’

New research shows hundreds of attempts by apparent Iranian state hackers to hijack consumer-grade cameras, timed to missile and drone strikes. Israel, Russia, and Ukraine have also adopted this trick.

Andy Greenberg

The Danger Behind Meta Killing End-to-End Encryption for Instagram DMs

Meta blamed users for not opting into the privacy-protecting feature. Experts fear the move could be the first major domino to fall for end-to-end encryption tech worldwide.

Lily Hay Newman

Back Up Your Android Phone Before It’s Too Late

Do your future self a favor and back up all your precious photos, messages, and files before disaster strikes.

Simon Hill

How to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Google Account

Make a recovery plan now to avoid losing access to your account in the future.

David Nield

Comments

You Might Also Like

Don't Just Keep Up. Get Ahead