Security loopholes can now be closed much more quickly and easily on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This enables the new “Rapid Security Response” (RSR) – in English: “rapid security response”.
A first such update was made available for download this week. This is a new form of system update that Apple can deliver faster – and is also faster and easier for users to install.
What changes?
Until now, Apple has usually bundled security updates with new features or fixes for non-security related software problems. The data packages to be downloaded were therefore often several hundred megabytes in size and the installation made the iPhone unusable for fifteen minutes or more.
The RSR (Rapid Security Response) apparently offers the possibility to make the required data packages leaner and to speed up the installation process. The first available update only has a good 80 megabytes and is also installed much faster than you are used to.
Nothing changes for users when dealing with the rapid security updates, they behave like regular software updates. By the way, the version number does not change as a result of an RSR update, but a letter is added to the number. In the current case, the version number is now iOS 16.4.1(a).
And for Mac users?
By the way, this is similar on Apple’s Mac computers. Here too, the RSR version jump can be recognized by a letter after the version number:
Can this be deactivated?
Yes. If you do not want fast updates, for example because you want to keep the number of updates as small as possible, you can deactivate the installation in the settings:
- Must for this on iPhone under “Settings” > “General” > “Software update” > “Automatic updates” the switch behind the option “Security measures and system files” can be disabled.
These users will then receive the security update together with the next regular update.
This can also be set on the Mac:
- Here you first select the Apple menu () > «System Preferences». Then click on «General» and «Software Update». Next to “Automatic updates”, click the i surrounded by a circle.
- The switch behind “Install security measures and system files” controls whether RSR is displayed or whether security updates are played through regular updates.
Apple has not yet announced which security gaps will be closed with the latest update.
Sources
- support.apple.com: Manage quick security measures on Apple devices
(t-online/dsc)
Source: Watson
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
