iPhone users urged to update 'as soon as you can' over security issues

There are plenty of compelling reasons to update your phone - from helping it run more quickly to accessing fun new features - but security is top of the list for most of us.

And if you have an iPhone, you might want to make sure your device is definitely up to date.

Apple

You might be thinking: wait, didn't I just download a new update?

And yes - many of us downloaded iOS 17.1.2 when it was initially released at the end of November, and now, less than two weeks later, iOS 17.2 is available.

So what happened? Well, iOS 17.1.2 was an emergency update - fixing critical security flaws - whereas this one brings with it a range of new features.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't download it ASAP - it also fixes a total of 12 security vulnerabilities, some of which are said to be serious.

While we don't know much about what's being fixed, WebKit, which underpins Safari, is among the areas which have been updated.

Another issue that has reportedly been fixed is a Bluetooth-related vulnerability, which could allow an attacker with access to capture keystrokes.

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Some of the issues could "be chained together to allow an attacker to be able to potentially have significant access to the device", Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace, told Forbes.

But don't panic too much - Wright suggested there's no indication the bugs are being used in attacks, but they could leave you open to exploitation.

So the security expert encouraged iPhone users to update "as soon as you can".

But that's not the only good reason to update your phone, because Apple has come through with the goods - in the form of a whole host of shiny new features.

One of the biggest is Journal, a new app that lets users "capture and write about everyday moments and special events in their lives, and include photos, videos, audio recordings, locations, and more to create rich memories", Apple says.

Essentially, it's a digital way to journal, with personalized suggestions and prompts to help to spark inspiration - and you can even schedule notifications to remind you to add an entry.

Other new features include the option to turn the Action Button on the iPhone 15 Pro into a translation tool, as well as improvements to Messages, Music and Weather.

But before you get too ahead of yourself - the update isn't available to everyone, only iPhones released in 2018 or later.

You can download it easily by opening Settings, tapping 'General' then hitting 'Software Update'.