Still have an iPhone 6 or 5s? Update it now to fix a big security vulnerability

By Cristina Alexander Published August 31, 2022

Are you still carrying an iPhone 6 or 5s to save money on the latest Apple device, including the upcoming iPhone 14? If so, Apple has released a new version of iOS 12, which addresses a serious security issue you might not have known about until now.

The security issue iOS 12.5.6 sets out to fix enabled malicious websites to craft content, including PDFs and apps designed to execute unchecked code on your phone if you open it on Safari, Chrome, or another web browser. Apple said in the patch notes that it was made aware of the vulnerability after receiving a report that a bad actor has been actively exploiting it. The last update that addressed this issue was iOS 12.5.5, which Apple released in September 2021.

sell your smartphone iphone 5s — Image used with permission by copyright holder

You might want to take a few minutes today and install iOS 12.5.6 if you want to protect yourself and your data from potentially being stolen by hackers if you accidentally stumble onto a website that attempts to run malicious code on your phone. To install the update, go to the Settings app, tap the General tab, and then go to Software update to download it. If your phone gives you a message saying that you don’t have enough space to install the update, go to your storage space and eliminate any unnecessary apps and programs to accommodate it.

Recommended Videos

The iOS 12.5.6 update is also available for the iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2 and 3, and the sixth-generation iPod Touch. Security warnings like this one are usually nothing to worry about, but you can’t be too careful nowadays.

Cristina Alexander

Gaming/Mobile Writer

Cristina Alexander is a gaming and mobile writer at Digital Trends. She blends fair coverage of games industry topics that…

Topics

Phones

The EU says TikTok still isn’t doing enough to protect kids

Regulators say the platform's privacy settings don't go far enough under the Digital Services Act.

TikTok Creative Featured

The European Commission has accused TikTok of falling short on protecting minors, saying the platform's current account settings don't meet the child safety standards required under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The findings are preliminary, but if upheld, TikTok could face a fine of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.

Why the EU thinks TikTok isn't doing enough

Computing

Qualcomm is set to ratchet up chip prices in September, and your next gadget upgrade could bear the brunt

The price hike could touch every Snapdragon-powered device category.

The new Qualcomm Snadragon 8 Elite Gen 5

I want you to sit with this for a second. Qualcomm, the company whose Snapdragon chips sit inside your Android phone and tablet, your Windows laptop, your Meta smart glasses, your Galaxy Watch, and your wireless earbuds, reportedly sent a letter to every major customer telling them prices are going up by double digits.

The price hike will be in effect from September 1, 2026, a recent Bloomberg report claims. Essentially, all the companies placing their chip orders after that will pay a higher price.

Phones

Enter the wrong PIN 13 times and your Galaxy phone is locked for good

New Galaxy phones will require a factory reset after 13 failed unlock attempts

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra smartphone in blue color.

Samsung is making the lock screen much harder to break on Galaxy devices launching with Android 17-based One UI 9. Enter the wrong PIN, pattern, or password 13 times, and the phone will stop accepting attempts. A full factory reset will then be the only way to use it again.

The change is designed to stop brute-force attacks, where someone repeatedly guesses different passwords until one works. It is a major shift from older One UI versions, which mainly relied on temporary waiting periods rather than a mandatory final lockout.