Apple, on Friday, said customers need to download the patch onto their computer using iTunes, then install it on their iPhone by connecting the device to the computer.
While Apple has issued the patch, the flaw remains a problem until millions of iPhone users upgrade their software. In the meantime, criminal hackers may try to exploit the flaw to commit cybercrimes.
News of the flaw surfaced on Thursday when researchers Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner discussed the vulnerability at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, one of the world’s most prominent security conventions. They found the bug while looking for vulnerabilities in the SMS communications system, which mobile devices use to send and receive text messages along with software upgrades. They warned Apple of the flaw on July 18. The two said they decided to go public with their discovery in a bid to warn iPhone users of the potential risk and also pressure Apple to come up with a quick fix.
