Apple released the first “Rapid Security Response (RSR)” Public, hot security updates available over the air for both iPhone and iPad users running iOS and iPadOS version 16.4.1, and Mac users running the latest macOS version 13.3.1. Up to today, Apple had only tested this feature on beta versions of its operating systems, releasing four of them.
The “Rapid Security Response” update was developed by Apple to offer users of bug fixes without the need to reinstall all full firmware. The whole process is usually quick, taking just a few minutes to download and install. Precisely for this reason, RSRs usually have a not particularly significant weight. In this case, we are talking about 85MB on iOS and 309 on macOS.
Furthermore, unlike classic firmware updates, it is not necessary that the battery of the device is charged at least to 50%. RSR updates can be installed automatically by default but it is still possible to choose, through the settings, whether to deactivate them in order to later decide whether or not to install them in manual mode. Not all RSRs will require a system restart but in some cases it is still required.
Given their nature, however, it would It is always advisable to proceed with the installation of the RSRs as these are updates aimed at increase device security quickly correcting, outside the classic operating system update windows, system flaws or zero day vulnerabilities that are potentially exploitable or which, in some cases, may have already been exploited.
Once upgraded, to the pre-installed version of iOS, iPadOS and macOS a letter “a” will be added in parentheses, precisely to indicate the integration of a first RSR to the original firmware. At the moment, the vulnerabilities fixed with these Rapid Security Responses are not yet known in detail
