New iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe updates fix 30 security vulnerabilities: what you need to know

Apple just dropped security updates for iOS 26.6.1, iPadOS 26.6.1 and macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 that fixe nearly 30 vulnerabilities according to a support document. The surprising thing about this update is that it's the third security release in as many weeks.Earlier this month, The Financial Times reported that AI is surfacing bugs faster than Apple's normal update release schedule can handle.Per Apple, this update includes fixes that were already added to the iOS 27 beta, iPadOS 27 beta and macOS Golden Gate betas that are currently running.Close to 30 vulnerabilitiesA majority of the vulnerabilities are related to WebKit and flaws that affected Safari. Simply accessing "maliciously crafted web content" could cause Safari to crash. These crashes came from memory handling issues, input validation, and processing states.The other fixes include an audio vulnerability that could allow an app to leak sensitive information, an image flaw that could allow for random code execution, and a trio of kernel vulnerabilities.For iOS specifically, Apple addressed a telephony bug that could allow a bad actor in a privileged network to bypass IPSec authentication and intercept your network traffic.Interestingly, of the vulnerabilities outlined, 21 are WebKit-related, and nine are credited to OpenAI's Codex Security.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Stay safe and update (Image credit: robert coolen/Shutterstock)According to Apple, none of the vulnerabilities in today's listing are known to have been exploited in the wild yet. Still, you'll want to update to the latest version as soon as possible since bad actors could start targeting those flaws.As such, we recommend you update to the newest versions as soon as possible, especially with all of these vulnerabilities being found so quickly.For devices that can't run iOS 26 or iPad OS 26, Apple also released iOS 18.7.10 and iPadOS 18.7.10 so older devices can receive the same support and protection.You can install the updates via the Settings app by tapping General and selecting Software Update. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. More from Tom's GuideApple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch in September15 Apple deals students should snap up on Amazon — save on MacBook Air M5, AirPods, iPads and accessoriesiPhone Ultra leakers reveal new details around release and 'extremely limited' availability