Apple has confirmed that sophisticated ‘mercenary spyware’ is currently targeting iPhone users worldwide. These hackers are exploiting weaknesses in outdated software to steal private data. While Apple released a quick update recently, millions of people are still at risk of data theft.
The tech giant has clarified that security patches for users with iOS 25 or older versions will not be available. This means iPhone security attacks could effectively target hundreds of millions of people who have not upgraded to the new iOS 26 system.
Apple has changed its security rules and informed that the company will no longer send updates to outdated phones to keep them safe. Two dangerous flaws were found in the software that runs Safari and email.
These flaws let hackers take over a phone if the user just visits a bad website. They do not even have to click a link for the ‘zero-click’ spyware to sneak in. The older phones are completely vulnerable to these attacks, and the fix is available only on iOS 26.
A large group of people who dislike the new ‘Liquid Glass’ design of iOS 26 are at risk of these attacks. Currently, close to 82% of iPhone users have not yet upgraded their phones as they find the new look confusing or fear it might slow down their older devices.
This creates a massive ‘vulnerability gap’ for owners of iPhone 11, XR, and XS. These phones can run the new update, but their owners are choosing to opt out. Meanwhile, people with the iPhone 8 or iPhone X are in an even worse shape as their phones cannot run iOS 26. Buying a brand-new phone is the only way these users can ensure their safety.
Apple is forcing users to choose between a new look they might dislike and the safety of their personal data. This situation highlights that in the future, iPhone users can expect security support to end much sooner for older devices, and to stay protected, they must ensure both their hardware and software are updated.