Install IOS / IPadOS 14.4 Today to Block Three Serious Vulnerabilities
There is a brand new update for iOS and iPadOS, and you shouldn’t hesitate to get it. While version 14.4 of the two operating systems might not seem like it has a lot going on besides the rather general “improvements and bug fixes” for your iPhone or iPad, there is a little more under the hood that you need to be aware of.
Basically, iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 address three critical security issues that “could have been actively exploited,” Apple notes on its security updates page . The updated operating system addresses a kernel issue in which “race condition was eliminated with improved locking” and two reported issues with WebKit, resulting in “a logic issue resolved with improved constraints.”
These descriptions contain a bit of jargon, but the simple explanation is that the vulnerabilities mainly allowed malicious applications to run with elevated privileges or attackers to remotely execute code on your device. Both are very bad things, and you definitely need to install the latest iOS or iPadOS update to fix them.
Beyond that, iOS 14.4 adds a few additional features, including the ability to indicate what type of Bluetooth device you’ve connected to your iPhone or iPad so that it can better track if your sound is too loud and could potentially damage your hearing. Your iPhone or iPad’s camera will also be able to correctly detect smaller QR codes, and in this release Apple fixes a bunch of iPhone bugs:
- “Image artifacts can appear in HDR photos taken with the iPhone 12 Pro.
- Fitness widget may not display updated activity data
- Typing may be delayed and word suggestions may not appear on the keyboard
- Keyboard may display in the wrong language in messages
- Audio from News in CarPlay may not resume after pausing for voice guidance or Siri.
- Enabling Switch Control in Accessibility may prevent you from answering phone calls from the lock screen. “
And a few iPad bugs :
- “Typing may be delayed and word sentences may not appear on the keyboard.
- The keyboard may be displayed in messages in the wrong language “
Apple is also introducing one new quirk to your iPhone 12 (and variants): your phone now issues an annoying “warning” if it detects that its camera is not “Apple’s new real camera.” You will see a warning on the lock screen for the first four days after someone repairs your device, and it will also appear in the settings app for a full half month. Your camera will still work – as much as possible if you replace it at some random repair shop – but that will only be a small problem that you have to deal with.