Skip to main content

Update your Mac now to patch this crucial security flaw

Apple just released another critical security update with the zero-day fixes appearing in MacOS Monterey 12.6 and Big Sur 11.7. The vulnerability even affects the iPhone and iPad, requiring an update to iOS 15.7 and iPadOS 15.7 to protect these devices.

This is the eighth zero-day this year, putting Apple on track to beat last year’s unfortunate record of 12 zero-day flaws.

The MacBook Air on a table in front of a window.
Digital Trends

Apple’s description on the detail pages linked to from its security updates webpage cites CVE-2022-32917 for MacOS Monterey, MacOS Big Sur, iOS, and iPadOS. Another actively exploited flaw was found in MacOS Big Sur, CVE-2022-32894.

Recommended Videos

In both cases, Apple notes that the problem was resolved by improving bounds checks. When an app writes information or code to a memory address that it isn’t supposed to have access to, this is known as an out-of-bounds issue.

Since these vulnerabilities have already been taken advantage of, it’s important to update as soon as possible to protect your Mac, iPhone, and iPad from malware and hacking attempts.

Apple isn’t the only tech company having trouble with zero-day vulnerabilities. Google reported a record number of active exploits in 2021 and predicted ongoing threats in 2022.

Updating a Mac is simple. Just open System Preferences, then find and open the Software Update pane. If there are any system updates available, select the Update Now button to download and install the latest version.

If you have set MacOS to automatically download and install security updates, you might already have the latest version. If you have any questions or need more help, check our full guide to updating your Mac.

To check which version of MacOS you have, choose About This Mac from the Apple menu and the operating system version number will appear near the top of the window that opens. If you see MacOS Monterey 12.6 or MacOS Big Sur 11.7, your Mac is already protected from the latest zero-day exploits.

It’s just as easy to update an iPhone or iPad by using the Settings app.

Alan Truly
Alan Truly is a Writer at Digital Trends, covering computers, laptops, hardware, software, and accessories that stand out as…
35 years ago, Steve Jobs launched an obscure operating system that changed everything
A NeXTcube computer running the NeXTSTEP operating system.

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the launch of NeXTSTEP, a computer operating system launched by Steve Jobs during his years away from Apple. Deeply obscure these days and long since discontinued, it’s nevertheless had a monumental impact on computing history and development -- and has led to many of the things we take for granted every day.

The World Wide Web? It was dreamed up on NeXTSTEP. It paved the way for macOS and all of Apple’s other modern operating systems. And as we mentioned earlier, it was crafted at a company led by a certain Steve Jobs. You might have heard of him.

Read more
The macOS Sequoia update just launched. Here’s why you should install it
The iPhone Mirroring feature from macOS Sequoia being demonstrated at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

The macOS Sequoia update is finally here, bringing iPhone Mirroring, Safari updates, window tiling, and the new Passwords app to Mac. As promised, there are no Apple Intelligence features in this update, but they will start rolling out from next month.

iPhone Mirroring is the most exciting thing coming with this update, allowing you to check your messages, notifications, and apps without switching devices. The feature makes a lot of sense as the one time we truly don't need our phones is when we're already using a computer. Instead of taking your hands off the keyboard to pick up your iPhone, you can simply access it on your Mac like a phone-shaped app.

Read more
I’d never use a Mac without first changing these 8 security settings
Security and Privacy settings open on a MacBook.

If you’ve got one of the best MacBooks or Macs, the chances are good that you do an awful lot of sensitive stuff on your computer. Think about all the passwords you enter, the emails you send and receive, and the documents you create -- all of those can provide a treasure trove of data to any sticky-fingered ne’er-do-wells who manage to gain access to your device.

To prevent the worst from happening, it’s a good idea to beef up your Mac security. The good news is that doing so is far easier than you might think, and there are a handful of macOS settings you can change right now to keep your Mac -- and all the information it holds about you -- safe from prying eyes.

Read more