The cybersecurity arm of the Indian government, CERT-In, has sent out a serious alert to owners of Apple products. The federal agency has identified several vulnerabilities in a number of Apple products in its most recent alert, which was published along with Vulnerability Note CIAD-2024-0007. If hackers were to take advantage of these flaws, they could be able to steal confidential user information and possibly take over the device entirely.

According to CERT-In's warning statement, users of MacBooks and iPhones in particular should take great precautions due to the most recent vulnerabilities. These flaws have the ability to provide attackers elevated rights on the targeted system, circumvent security measures, access confidential data, and run arbitrary code. In addition, CERT-In exhorts owners of Apple devices to safeguard their gadgets right away and shield crucial and personal information from unwanted access.

The various Apple products running distinct operating systems are included in the list of impacted devices:

1. Apple tvOS versions prior to 17.3

2. Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K (all models)

3. Apple watchOS versions prior to 10.3

4. Apple Watch Series 4 and later

5. Apple macOS Monterey versions prior to 12.7.3

6. Apple macOS Ventura versions prior to 13.6.4

7. Apple macOS Sonoma versions prior to 14.3

8. Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 15.8.1

9. iPhone 6s (all models), iPhone 7 (all models), iPhone SE (1st generation), iPad Air 2, iPad mini (4th generation), and iPod touch (7th generation)

10. Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 16.7.5

11. iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation

12. Apple iOS and iPadOS versions prior to 17.3

13. iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation and later, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation and later, iPad Air 3rd generation and later, iPad 6th generation and later, and iPad mini 5th generation and later

14. Apple Safari versions prior to 17.3

15. macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura

How to be secure

CERT-In advises customers to implement the security upgrades listed in the Apple Security Update right away in order to protect susceptible Apple devices from potential security risks. These updates are intended to fix the found vulnerabilities and improve your device's overall security.

In the interim, take the following precautions to safeguard your devices from similar threats in the future: 

Maintain Up-to-Date Software: Make sure your Apple devices are routinely checked for updates, and install them right away. This keeps you safe from vulnerabilities by ensuring you get the most recent security patches and bug fixes. For extra convenience, if at all possible, enable automatic updates.

Use Robust Passwords: Create strong, one-of-a-kind passwords for every account you have, and, if possible, enable two-factor authentication. This establishes a strong defense against unwanted access, even if your password is stolen.

Be Wary of Emails and Links: Be wary of emails and links, especially if they appear suspicious or come from senders you don't know. Since phishing schemes frequently take advantage of weaknesses, using caution can help you avoid becoming a victim. Back-Up Often: Make sure to frequently create backups of your critical data to iCloud or an external drive. This protects your data from unintentional loss, device malfunctions, and security breaches. You can minimize loss and quickly restore your data if you have a recent backup.