Tag: iOS

iOS 15.4.1 and macOS 12.3.1: Apple addresses battery and display issues

Apple’s operating system updates are intended to eliminate bugs that have plagued iPhone and Mac users. Vulnerabilities are apparently actively exploited for attacks.

The company has released iOS and iPadOS 15.4.1 and macOS 12.3.1 for download on Thursday evening. The updates can be obtained via the integrated software update on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

On iPhones, iOS version 15.4.1 is said to fix potential battery life issues. The battery could drain “quicker than expected” after installing iOS 15.4, as Apple announced.

The manufacturer had made requests from users to show patience. It was observed Immediately after installing iOS 15.4, routine processes can increase processor utilization and thus reduce iPhone battery life. That should be back within about two days, it was originally said. However, some iPhone owners reported a shorter battery life afterward.

Problems with external monitors on Mac
In addition, the new version of the operating system should once again ensure reliable interaction with Braille devices and hearing aids designed for the iPhone (MFi). According to Apple, these could suddenly lose the connection in third-party apps. iPadOS is also available in version 15.4.1 and, according to the manufacturer, contains the same bug fixes.

According to Apple, the new version 12.3.1 of macOS Monterey eliminates problems with external displays connected via USB-C or Thunderbolt. In particular, only the Mac mini 2018 is mentioned here as a problem child, but users also reported difficulties when using external monitors on MacBooks. Game controllers paired with the Mac should no longer lose the Bluetooth connection.

Apple has also released tvOS 15.4.1, HomePod software 15.4.1 and watchOS 8.5.1. Whether the Apple Watch update will address the (re)fast charging issues that several Series 7 owners have recently reported remains to be seen.

Vulnerability is probably actively exploited for attacks
A serious vulnerability in operating systems allows programs to run malicious code with kernel privileges, Apple warns. There are reports that the vulnerability may already be actively exploited. Users should import the updates accordingly quickly. So far, the relevant security information from the manufacturer is only available for iOS, iPadOS and macOS. There seem to be two zero-day vulnerabilities on Macs: In addition to a security-related bug in the AppleAVD component, Apple also lists a bug in the Intel graphics driver there. There is no patch available for older macOS versions.

[Update 4/1/2022 9:15 am] Participants in Apple’s beta program must remove the installed profile if they want to install iOS and iPadOS 15.4.1. Otherwise the update will not appear in the software update. Apple has not yet provided a new pre-release, such as iOS 15.5.

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After update to iOS 15.4: Apple confirms battery problems

In addition to some improvements, the new iOS version 15.4 also brings some known problems: Apple confirmed user reports that the iPhone battery discharges much faster after installing the update.

The update to version 15.4 of the Apple operating system iOS had to deal with irregularities in battery operation a few days after the release, as can be seen from various user reports on Twitter. The company itself has already responded to the problem in a tweet .

After the installation of iOS 15.4, the battery life of iPhones is significantly reduced – in some cases, five percent battery consumption can be seen within ten minutes in sleep mode. Enormous heat developments on the back can also be observed more frequently with the update.

iOS 15.4 battery problems: what to do?
However, Apple sees no reason for concern in this regard. Instead, the company’s support site tweeted that these operations were common, noting that installed apps and software-side features would take up to 48 hours to adapt to the new OS version.

Accordingly, Apple recommends a patient approach after the iOS 15.4 update has been installed and the battery problem occurs. After a few days of waiting, the applications should be adjusted to the new operating system, so that battery operation should resume normal cycles.

Restarting the smartphone should also be a potential workaround. Customers should only contact official Apple support for troubleshooting if the battery consumption is in this range over the long term.

iOS 15.3.1 available for download. Don’t wait and update

IPhone users can now install the stable iOS 15.3.1 release. This is an urgent update that fixes the 0-day vulnerability giving unauthorized access to the phone. Installation requires less than 900 MB of data to be downloaded.

Apple has released an iOS and iPadOS update, which is crucial for security. Version 15.3.1 may come as a surprise (release 15.4 is already available in a trial version), but don’t hesitate to install it. The update includes a patch for the 0-day vulnerability marked as CVE-2022-22620 , which allows you to get to the data on the device.

According to Kaspersky , it is about incorrect management of dynamic memory in applications, which in practice leads to unauthorized access to data. The attack can be carried out from the level of a crafted website and ultimately lead to the execution of arbitrary code on an unpatched version of iOS. That is why the installation of the revised version of the system is so important.

The vulnerability was classified as Use-After-Free , which means unauthorized access to the theoretically freed memory by other applications. The idea is to use unremoved pointers that allow hackers to access data in memory that should not, by definition, be reachable, especially from other programs.

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