Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac simply received a first-of-its-kind safety replace

Apple has simply used its new Rapid Security Response system for the primary time in an everyday public launch—all prior RSR patches had been for iOS/macOS beta testing functions.

The patch comes as an replace for these working iOS or iPadOS 16.4.1 or macOS 13.3.1. There are not any launch notes for this replace, Apple solely offers the boilerplate description: “This Rapid Security Response offers essential safety fixes and is advisable for all customers.”

Apple describes the brand new Rapid Security Response system this manner:

Rapid Security Responses are a brand new kind of software program launch for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They ship essential safety enhancements between software program updates — for instance, enhancements to the Safari internet browser, the WebKit framework stack, or different important system libraries. They may be used to mitigate some safety points extra shortly, equivalent to points that may have been exploited or reported to exist “within the wild.”

New Rapid Security Responses are delivered just for the newest model of iOS, iPadOS and macOS — starting with iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1.

At this time, Apple’s Security Updates web page doesn’t but record the precise fixes of this RSR. We’ll replace this story as extra particulars concerning the replace are made out there. It’s not clear if Apple shall be transferring away from safety fixes which might be tied to level updates or if these RSR updates are for faster emergency-style fixes.

If you wish to ensure you obtain these updates, go to Settings (System Settings on macOS) > General > Software Updates > Automatic Updates and ensure you have “Security Responses & System Files” enabled. They are reportedly being rolled out over a couple of days, so your system may not obtain the replace instantly or there could also be points putting in it. These fixes will finally be included within the subsequent iOS/iPadOS/macOS launch, however that may take some time and depart your system susceptible within the meantime.

This new system was meant as a manner for Apple to replace important system elements shortly with out updating all of iOS, which might embody updates to built-in apps and requires much more testing earlier than launch.