iOS 17 is a great update for your iPhone. It adds 20+ new ringtones and alert tones for this first time in a decade; lets you set up a full-screen Contact Poster that appears when you call other iPhones; and introduces video voice messages for FaceTime.
But for all its good following its release on Monday, iOS 17 is already outdated: Apple released iOS 17.0.1 and iPadOS 17.0.1 on Sept. 21, just three days after the official release. As far as I can tell, there are no new user-facing features in this update. Instead, 17.0.1 seems to be, above all, a security update.
iOS 17.0.1 patches three security vulnerabilities
In the security notes Apple released online, it appears 17.0.1 patches three security flaws. The first is a flaw affected kernel (the “core” of an operating system), which Apple says an attacker could exploit to elevate their privileges. That means the flaw would enable the attacker to access the system in ways they normally would not be allowed to.
The second flaw affects app security, patching a hole that would let a malicious app bypass signature validation, which would allow it to sneak past the usual restrictions preventing malicious activity in the first place. Finally, the update also fixes a WebKit flaw that could allow malicious web content, such as a link or image, to run code on your system, effectively taking over your device.
Apple has released a similar update for iOS 16.7 and iPadOS 16.7, intended for iPhones and iPads that either can’t update to iOS 17, or for users who would prefer to stay on iOS 16, as well as an update for macOS Ventura 13.6. Apple also released a watchOS 10.0.1 update and a watchOS 9.6.3 update that patches the kernel and security flaws, and a macOS Monterey 12.7 update that patches the kernel issue.
The updates come exactly two weeks after Apple seeded another series of security updates for its devices.
How to update all your Apple devices
To update your iPhone or iPad, head to Settings > General > Software Update, then hit “Download and Install” underneath iOS 17.0.1 (or iOS 16.7). Enter your passcode, then wait for the update to download before installing it.
On macOS Ventura, go to System Settings > General > Software Update, then hit “Update Now” on macOS Ventura 13.6. To update macOS Monterey, go to System Preferences > General > Software Update, then choose “Update Now” for macOS Monterey 12.7. On your Apple Watch, you’ll find the update either in the Watch app on your iPhone under General > Software Update, or on the watch itself from Settings > General > Software Update.