{"id":65991,"date":"2016-08-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/?p=65991"},"modified":"2021-12-22T22:25:25","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T06:25:25","slug":"install-ios-935-backup-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backblaze.com\/blog\/install-ios-935-backup-first\/","title":{"rendered":"iOS 9.3.5 Fixes Malware Exploit: Install It, but Back Up First!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Update<\/a><\/p>\n

This week, Apple posted an important update to iOS 9. Version 9.3.5 is ready for download from Apple\u2019s servers. Experts advise you to upgrade right away, since it closes a malware security vulnerability. It\u2019s good advice, even if the risk is small to most of us. Make sure to back up your iPhone or iPad<\/a> first, though. Here\u2019s info on what\u2019s going on and how to protect yourself.<\/p>\n

First of all, if there\u2019s one takeaway from the story: Don\u2019t click on a link unless you know what’s inside.<\/p>\n

A human rights dissident named Ahmed Mansoor received a strange text message on his iPhone encouraging him to click a link. He didn\u2019t. Instead Mansoor reported it to a security research firm. Researchers think that it was a sophisticated effort to take over Mansoor\u2019s iPhone. The code belongs to a company that makes government spyware.<\/p>\n

The security group alerted Apple and didn\u2019t publicize the break until after Apple issued the patch.<\/p>\n

What Is a Zero-day Exploit?<\/h2>\n

The original report<\/a> says that hackers have combined \u201czero-day\u201d exploits in iOS to remotely jailbreak a targeted iPhone. \u201cZero-day\u201d is security shorthand for \u201cthis problem hadn\u2019t been patched by the software maker when it was found.\u201d (\u201cJailbreaking\u201d enables software to be installed on the iPhone that Apple doesn\u2019t allow otherwise.)<\/p>\n

The folks at Macworld have the skinny<\/a> on what\u2019s going on here:<\/p>\n

When used together, the exploits allow someone to hijack an iOS device and control or monitor it remotely. Hijackers would have access to the device\u2019s camera and microphone, and could capture audio calls even in otherwise end-to-end secured apps like WhatsApp. They could also grab stored images, tracking movements, and retrieve files.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s important to understand that according to the security experts who have examined the code, this particular exploit was targeted<\/em> to be delivered to a specific person. It was only his general awareness and suspicion something was wrong that prevented the software from getting installed.<\/p>\n

In other words, this isn\u2019t like a phishing or a botnet scheme, where the goal is to get as many devices infected as possible. Instead, this was an effort by government actors to target a specific individual.<\/p>\n

That means that the risk<\/em> to you that you might be exploited by this particular problem is relatively low, unless you\u2019re in the crosshairs of a government agency (or unless malware programmers figure out another way to exploit this particular threat for other reasons).<\/p>\n

Risk, low. So don\u2019t panic. But the threat<\/em> is still there, which is why Apple\u2019s pushed the 9.3.5 update and is recommending that everyone who\u2019s running iOS 9 install it promptly.<\/p>\n

Should I Back Up Before I Update?<\/h2>\n

Yes! Back up before you make any fundamental changes to your device. It’s a good idea to make sure any essential information is stored safely somewhere else.<\/p>\n

You can back up your device using iTunes on the Mac or PC. Use the Lightning cable that came with your iOS device, connect it to an open USB port, then open iTunes to backup. You can also use iCloud Backup, Apple’s cloud-based backups service. Here\u2019s a guide to backing up your iPhone or iPad<\/a> with more details.<\/p>\n

In general, we advocate the 3-2-1 backup strategy<\/a>. Always have three copies of your data. One is your local copy (the data on your iPhone or iPad, for example). The second is a local backup (using iTunes on your Mac or PC, for example). The third is a copy stored safely off-site, in case anything happens\u2014the cloud, for example.<\/p>\n

iCloud Backup is one option for off-site backup. Backblaze will back up your computer\u2019s iTunes files including that local backup. So if you back up to your computer, then use Backblaze, you\u2019re all set.<\/p>\n

How Do I Update my iPhone or iPad?<\/h3>\n

Follow these steps to make sure iOS 9.3.5 is installed on your device. First of all, make sure your device is charged and connected to a Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Tap the iPhone or iPad\u2019s Home<\/strong> button.<\/li>\n
  2. Tap Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  3. Tap General<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  4. Tap Software Update<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  5. The device will check for an update. Your device will automatically restart after it\u2019s done.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \"How<\/a><\/p>\n

    What Do I Do Now?<\/h2>\n

    Breathe a sigh of relief now that you have iOS 9.3.5 installed. At least until the next<\/em> security exploit pops up. Just make sure to back up early and often, to make sure your device and your data is safe.<\/p>\n

    Editor’s note, 9\/1\/2016:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Mac users are also advised to apply the latest Security Updates to OS X 10.10 Yosemite and 10.11 El Capitan. On September 1, Apple released updates to those operating systems to patch the same security issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    This week, Apple posted an important update to iOS 9. Version 9.3.5 is ready for download from Apple\u2019s servers. Experts advise you to upgrade right away, since it closes a malware security vulnerability. It\u2019s good advice, even if the risk is small to most of us. Make sure to back up your iPhone or iPad… Continue reading iOS 9.3.5 Fixes Malware Exploit: Install It, but Back Up First!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":55881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[121,5],"tags":[469],"class_list":["post-65991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backing-up","category-mac-love","tag-consumerbackup","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\niOS 9.3.5 Fixes Malware Exploit: Install It, but Back Up First!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Apple has posted iOS 9.3.5 to fix a "zero-day" malware exploit. Update your devices, but back them up first. 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