Apple’s New Feature Will Install Security Updates Automatically Without Full OS Update

Apple has introduced a Rapid Security Response feature in
iOS 16 and macOS Ventura that’s designed to deploy security fixes
without the need for a full operating system version update.

“macOS security gets even stronger with new tools that make the
Mac more resistant to attack, including Rapid Security Response
that works in between normal updates to easily keep security up to
date without a reboot,” the company said^[1]
in a statement on Monday.

The feature, which also works on iOS^[2], aims to separate
regular software updates from critical security improvements and
are applied automatically so that users are protected against
in-the-wild attacks^[3]. It’s worth noting that
Apple tested an analogous option^[4] in iOS 14.5.

Another key security feature announced by Apple at its annual
Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) includes support for
third-party two-factor authentication apps with the built-in
Passwords feature in the Settings app.

What’s more, iOS 16 will now permit users to edit strong
passwords suggested by Safari to adjust for site‑specific
requirements, not to mention requiring apps to request users’
permission to access the clipboard to paste content from another
app.

In a similar permissions-related update, USB-C and Thunderbolt
accessories barring power adapters and standalone displays will be
made to explicitly ask for users’ consent before they can
communicate with macOS devices.

“On portable Mac computers with Apple silicon, new USB and
Thunderbolt accessories require user approval before the accessory
can communicate with macOS for connections wired directly to the
USB-C port,” the release notes reads^[5].

Apple, lastly, also confirmed it’s bringing support for passkeys
in the Safari web browser, a next-generation passwordless sign-in
standard that allows users to log in to websites and apps across
platforms using Touch ID or Face ID for biometric verification.

The mechanism^[6], established by the FIDO
Alliance and already backed by Google and Microsoft, aims to
supplant standard passwords by providing unique digital keys that
are stored locally on the device.

“Passkeys replace passwords with an easier and safer sign‑in
method,” the tech behemoth said. “Passkeys never leave your device
and are specific to the site you created them for, making it almost
impossible for them to be phished.”