Apple Will Push Out Rare ‘Backported’ Patches to Protect iOS 18 Users From DarkSword Hacking Tool

Apple is making a rare exception to its usual update policy by sending security fixes to iPhones still running iOS 18, instead of forcing users to move to iOS 26 to stay protected. The change comes after DarkSword, a hacking tool that can silently compromise some iPhones through infected websites, began spreading more widely and becoming easier for different hacker groups to reuse. Apple had already protected iOS 26 users, but millions of people were still on iOS 18, sometimes because they disliked the newer software, needed older app compatibility, or lacked space to upgrade. The article says growing criticism and the scale of the threat pushed Apple to backport the patch, a step experts say should be more common when serious exploits are active in the wild.