Guess some high up at Apple noticed iOS 26 adoption is low:
Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
11–20 of 28 posts
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#12Apple artificial move to encourage people to upgrade… if they could release security update for older iPhones they can release it for the rest of models…
Absolutely. This reeks.
My iPads on 18.7.3 just yesterday started pushing notifications to upgrade to 26.2 again.
Guess Apple wants to pump up those numbers. If they really cared, if they had an ethical bone in their body, they would release 18.7.3 to the public WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE STAGED.
This is more like blackmail where they are dangling these security issues over everyone's head as some scare tactic to upgrade, instead of giving everyone access to the iOS 18 security patch which already exists.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#13I don't know if it still works, but there was a way to get 18.7.3, for devices pushed to "upgrade" to Tahoe by enabling ios 18 beta releases.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#14Odd, I have an iPhone 11 on 18.6.2 and the Software Update page offers me nothing, just says "iOS is up to date". A few weeks ago it was offering me iOS 26, but not anymore.
OK, I had iOS 18 beta selected. I turned that off and IOS 26.2 magically reappeared as an offering. I guess since 18.7.3 is not going to be offered to me, I must install 26.2.
18.7.3 is no longer available as beta? It was as of a few weeks ago. Public or Developer beta?
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#15Guess some high up at Apple noticed iOS 26 adoption is low: https://mjtsai.com/blog/2026/01/09/slow-ios-26-adoption/
Forced obsolescence due to the iOS 26 bloat triggers a forced upgrade cycle.
More iPhone sales! Some VP up there is popping champagne after getting the genius idea to disguise it as a security feature and force it down people's throats.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#16> CVE-2025-43529 allows threat actors a direct code execution capability, while CVE-2025-14174 provides the much needed sandbox escape and privilege escalation capabilities which makes it devastating
Good news for people wanting to run the code they want on their own devices?
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#17> CVE-2025-43529 allows threat actors a direct code execution capability, while CVE-2025-14174 provides the much needed sandbox escape and privilege escalation capabilities which makes it devastating Good news for people wanting to run the code they want on their own devices?
Yep! It's good for jailbreaking, but it's a double edged sword because it's a similar approach that offensive actors use.
Most users lack the domain experience needed to protect and maintain hygiene against threat actors.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#18I don't know if it still works, but there was a way to get 18.7.3, for devices pushed to "upgrade" to Tahoe by enabling ios 18 beta releases.
They closed that loophole a couple weeks ago. 18.7.3 is no longer available for phones that can run 26.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#19Note the CVEs discussed were patches almost a month ago with iOS 18.7.3. If you used the beta workaround[1] to get that, you're safe and don't have to upgrade to iOS 26... for now.
Re: Apple Withdraws iOS 18 Security Updates
#20Apple artificial move to encourage people to upgrade… if they could release security update for older iPhones they can release it for the rest of models…
Absolutely. This reeks. My iPads on 18.7.3 just yesterday started pushing notifications to upgrade to 26.2 again. Guess Apple wants to pump up those numbers. If they really cared, if they had an ethical bone in their body, they would release 18.7.3 to the public WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE STAGED. This is more like blackmail where they are dangling these security issues over everyone's head as some scare tactic to upgrad…
>If they really cared, if they had an ethical bone in their body, they would release 18.7.3 to the public WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE STAGED.
>This is more like blackmail where they are dangling these security issues over everyone's head as some scare tactic to upgrade, instead of giving everyone access to the iOS 18 security patch which already exists.
18.7.3 was released a month ago. Anyone who cared about security updates would have already gotten it using the beta workaround. Anyone who's apathetic about updates isn't going to be swayed by 18.7.3 vs 26.2.