iOS 16.2 beta gets 'Rapid Security Response' update

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Apple issued a small "Rapid Security Update" to Tuesday's iOS 16.2 beta — but what exactly it entails isn't known.

There's not yet much known about the updates which is obviously a critical security fix of some sort. The update is very small, weighing in at less than 100 MB.

There are some peculiar details about it. It is removable by the user. Additionally, it does not appear folded into new downloads of the iOS 16.2 beta 3 that was made available on Tuesday afternoon.

What is known, is that this is clearly the first visible deployment of the new feature that has seperated of urgent security updates from large iOS updates.

The latest batch of operating systems, including iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura have a new feature called "Rapid Security Response." That new feature decouples security patches from software updates so the OS will protect users faster than waiting for a point or sub-point release.

In iOS 16 the setting is found in Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. A toggle called "Install Security Responses & System Files" says that patches for security bugs and system files will be automatically installed.

The toggle is found in the same place within System Settings on macOS Ventura as it is in iPadOS now that Apple has redesigned the older System Preferences app to be similar to iOS Settings.

10 Comments

DAalseth 3035 comments · 6 Years

About 2 years ago

Perhaps a test of the Rapid Security Response system? It is Beta Software after all.

22july2013 3725 comments · 11 Years

I would like to see a new iOS feature that sends out a "silent SOS" if I use a certain alternate PIN or certain alternate fingerprint to unlock my device. It should still unlock the device, but send an emergency text or email to selected people that could indicate I am under duress.

I would also like to see a "silent zeroize" alternate fingerprint and PIN that would erase all my data if I use that PIN or fingerprint. And this feature is the reason I prefer TouchID to FaceID - you can't carry a second face with you, but you have about 9 extra fingerprints.

dewme 5739 comments · 10 Years

22july2013 said:

I would like to see a new iOS feature that sends out a "silent SOS" if I use a certain alternate PIN or certain alternate fingerprint to unlock my device. It should still unlock the device, but send an emergency text or email to selected people that could indicate I am under duress.

I would also like to see a "silent zeroize" alternate fingerprint and PIN that would erase all my data if I use that PIN or fingerprint. And this feature is the reason I prefer TouchID to FaceID - you can't carry a second face with you, but you have about 9 extra fingerprints.

This sounds like a reasonable ask. Some home security systems already have the silent SOS pin feature you’re describing.

The only limitation I see with these special triggers is whether someone in the midst of a situation requiring their use would remain calm enough to initiate the process. Hopefully, users would choose a triggering mechanism that is simple, ingrained, and compatible with their instinctual reaction under very stressful situations.

AppleZulu 2176 comments · 8 Years

22july2013 said:

I would like to see a new iOS feature that sends out a "silent SOS" if I use a certain alternate PIN or certain alternate fingerprint to unlock my device. It should still unlock the device, but send an emergency text or email to selected people that could indicate I am under duress.

I would also like to see a "silent zeroize" alternate fingerprint and PIN that would erase all my data if I use that PIN or fingerprint. And this feature is the reason I prefer TouchID to FaceID - you can't carry a second face with you, but you have about 9 extra fingerprints.

The alternate PIN seems like a good idea, with the exception that having two numbers that will unlock the device effectively halves the security of your device.

If the alternate finger thing weren’t moot already, I’d say it’s not a great idea, due to the not-insignificant probability of inadvertently touching the fingerprint reader with the alternate finger and triggering a distress call or erasing the device. It would be an unhappy event to go fumbling for your phone from between the seat cushions only to retrieve a factory-reset device.