Apple released an update to iOS 18.7.7 on April 1, 2026, making it available for more devices to protect against the DarkSword hacking toolkit. The company extended support to older iPhones, such as the iPhone 16e, without requiring an upgrade to iOS 26. DarkSword primarily targets users outside the US.
Apple made an unusual move by broadening access to iOS 18.7.7, enabling automatic security protections for devices with Automatic Updates enabled. The update addresses web attacks from DarkSword, a new hacking toolkit. As Apple stated in its vulnerabilities notes, 'We enabled the availability of iOS 18.7.7 for more devices on April 1, 2026, so users with Automatic Updates turned on can automatically receive important security protections from web attacks called DarkSword.' The company still urges users to update to iOS 26 for the strongest defenses, noting, 'If possible, update to the latest version of iOS 26, which contains the strongest security protections.'
