As expected, Apple has released iOS 16.3.1 and iPadOS 16.3.1, updating the phone and tablet to the version released last week for tvOS and HomePod.
Three bugs have been fixed in the release notes:
iCloud settings may not respond or display correctly if apps use iCloud
Siri requests for Find My may not work
Optimized crash detection on iPhone 14 and Phone 14 Pro models.
While these bug fixes are welcome, there are several critical security fixes that make this update a must. There are two big fixes: we fixed a kernel vulnerability that affects every Apple device that can run iOS/iPadOS 16, which could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, and a Safari vulnerability that fixes an issue when a maliciously crafted web page may allow arbitrary code execution.
The notes say that the latest vulnerability “may have been actively exploited”, which puts it at the top of the list and makes iOS 16.3.1 an important update. Security flaws are common, but if there are already exploits, it is very important that you fix your device as soon as possible.
To update to iOS 16.3.1, go to the Settings app, tap General and then Software update. Finally click Download and install and follow the prompts.