Apple has released a security update for its operating systems to address more than 30 vulnerabilities on its flagship iPhone smartphones and iPads.
The updates, iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4, are available for the iPhone 8 and subsequent models, third-generation iPad Air tablets and later versions, fifth-generation and later models of the iPad and iPad mini, and all iPad Pros, the California-based company said.
Apple said it does not discuss vulnerabilities it is made aware of, usually by users and through its bug bounty programme, and provides very minimal details “for our customers' protection”.
“Apple doesn't disclose, discuss, or confirm security issues until an investigation has occurred and patches or releases are available,” the company said on its update information page.
Among the issues addressed are two that affect the operating system core kernel.
A kernel is a programme that acts as the primary interface between a computer and its hardware, managing components such as memory and system devices.
Any vulnerabilities that can be exploited can allow rogue users to bypass security measures and compromise the entire system.
A potential flaw was also found in Apple's Neural Engine, the component that optimises and accelerates processes and machine-learning tasks on its devices.
A fix was issued for the AppleMobileFileIntegrity kernel extension, removing potential access to protected parts of Apple's system and user-sensitive data.
Apple also issued a fix to prevent apps from gaining access to a user's contacts in its accessibility and identity services.
On Find My, Apple's service for tracking its devices, an issue of an app being able to read sensitive location information was fixed.
On WebKit, Apple's engine designed for its Safari internet browser, the company released a patch to prevent apps from tracking sensitive user information.
In addition to the security updates, the 16.4 release also features 21 new emojis, notifications for web apps on the home screen and voice isolation that blocks out ambient noise and prioritises the user's voice during calls.
It also optimised the crash-detection feature on the iPhone 14 devices and fixed an issue in which “Ask to Buy” requests from children may fail to appear on their parents' device.
Apple also issued a software update for its older devices, which also deals with security vulnerabilities.
The fixes, iOS 15.7.4 and iPadOS 15.7.4, are applicable to the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, first-generation iPhone SE, iPad Air 2, fourth-generation iPad mini and seventh-generation iPod touch devices.
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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Result
UAE (S. Tagliabue 90 1') 1-2 Uzbekistan (Shokhruz Norkhonov 48', 86')
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
India team for Sri Lanka series
Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.
T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan
Museum of the Future in numbers
- 78 metres is the height of the museum
- 30,000 square metres is its total area
- 17,000 square metres is the length of the stainless steel facade
- 14 kilometres is the length of LED lights used on the facade
- 1,024 individual pieces make up the exterior
- 7 floors in all, with one for administrative offices
- 2,400 diagonally intersecting steel members frame the torus shape
- 100 species of trees and plants dot the gardens
- Dh145 is the price of a ticket
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
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