Apple iPhones, iPads, Macs tagged as 'High risk' by CERT-In

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has issued a security alert about vulnerabilities affecting Apple devices, including iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watches. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has published an advisory highlighting several security flaws in Apple devices running outdated software.

CERT-In has classified these vulnerabilities as "High risk," warning that they could potentially allow attackers to gain unauthorised access to sensitive user data, cause service disruptions, or even lead to data manipulation. The advisory highlights multiple security vulnerabilities in older versions of iOS, macOS, and other Apple software, which could allow attackers to access sensitive information, execute unauthorized code, bypass security protocols, and even cause denial of service or spoofing attacks.

Devices running outdated software versions—such as iPhones on versions prior to iOS 18, Macs on macOS prior to 14.7, and Apple Watches on watchOS earlier than version 11—are especially at risk if they haven't received the latest updates.

The warning from CERT-In comes amid rising global concerns about cybersecurity and increasing threats from advanced spyware and targeted cyberattacks, including those that may compromise high-profile individuals. Apple has also warned users in recent months about potential spyware attacks, adding to the urgency of keeping devices updated with the latest security patches

This advisory underscore the importance of regularly updating Apple devices to protect against potential cyber threats. CERT-In strongly recommends Apple users check for and install the latest updates on their devices to mitigate these vulnerabilities. Apple has already addressed these issues in newer versions, but users need to manually apply these updates to secure their devices.