Yahoo News iOS update protects against huge Wi-Fi exploit
iPhone users should probably think about updating their devices to iOS 10.3.3, if they haven't already, as it plugs up an extremely serious security flaw.
The vulnerability in question, known as 'Broadpwn', allows attackers to execute code on the Wi-Fi chip of an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch remotely. Using this method they could potentially crash, or take over the device.
Broadpwn is particularly scary as it requires no user interaction whatsoever. As long as the device is in Wi-Fi range of an attacker, and its Wi-Fi is turned on, it is vulnerable.
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology, a non-regulatory agency in the United States, has rated Broadpwn 9.8 / 10 on its severity scale.
Updating Apple devices to iOS 10.3.3 removes the vulnerability. The update shipped on Wednesday, so if you haven't already, it's advisable to install it sooner rather than later.
Apple isn't the only one to have taken action: Google updated Android to protect against Broadpwn earlier this month. The vulnerability originates from the Broadcom BCM43xx series of Wi-Fi chipsets (hence the name), which are used in some Android devices as well as Apple ones.
Other than plugging up Broadpwn, iOS 10.3.3 is a relatively uninteresting patch mostly containing security updates and bug fixes.
But users won't have to wait long for new features and exciting toys: iOS 11 is on its way in the autumn, and when the whole numbers go up, there's always plenty to talk about.
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