Today at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern, Apple will stream its next Apple Event, one that Apple is teasing by using the phrase “California Streaming.” I expect Apple to introduce the 2021 versions of various models of the iPhone, a new Apple Watch, and perhaps more new hardware. I also expect Apple to reveal more details of iOS 15, including its release date.
In the meantime, you should immediately update your iPhone to iOS 14.8, which was released yesterday. It fixes a flaw that has been actively exploited to hack into iPhones. The flaw was discovered by The Citizen Lab, which is based at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy at the University of Toronto, an organization that focuses on “research, development, and high-level strategic policy and legal engagement at the intersection of information and communication technologies, human rights, and global security.” In a report released yesterday, The Citizen Lab explains how the Pegasus software, sold by NSO Group to governments around the world, used this exploit earlier this year to hack into an iPhone owned by a Saudi activist (who has requested anonymity). If it was used on that one iPhone, I presume it was also used to hack into other iPhones and can continue to be used on any iPhone that is not updated, so you might as well update your iPhone now – along with your iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac if you have them.
If you want to learn about Apple’s announcements today as they happen, click here to watch the Apple Event on the Apple website. If you cannot watch it live, Apple will let you watch the video again later today. Tomorrow, I’ll share my thoughts on the new iPhone.
