Apple Security Updates: Disaster or Media Hype

Apple’s latest security updates and the media storm it created

On August 17, Apple released a slew of security updates for the Mac, and for iPhones and iPads. Apple routinely releases “critical” security updates, and there was nothing particularly significant about these that make them stand out among Apple’s hundreds of other critical security fixes.

For over thirty years, while supporting Mac users, I have recommended installing Apple’s minor “point” releases and security updates. At the same time, I suggest against upgrading to a newer macOS without checking in with me. This situation would be no different except for the unhinged media response to all this.

This is not the isolated “emergency” bug fix, as CNN seemed to think. Nor is this a response to a virulent Chinese virus, as one of my clients heard.

What should Mac users do?

The updates are not for all Macs. They are only for Macs running the macOS Monterey. Yes, it is important to run the Monterey “point” update (from 12.5 to 12.5.1), and the latest security update. These are found by going to System Preferences > Software Update. It should say “Update” and not “Upgrade”.

But wait. I also recommend NOT installing updates or upgrades to your Mac without an up-to-date Time Machine backup. Time Machine is backup software that Apple includes with every Mac, and with an external hard drive connected, you can create a Time Machine backup. Although it is rare that an update or upgrade will go badly, you should be prepared in case something untoward does happen.

Perfect Security

In general, the best security is achieved by running the latest macOS, which is only available for Macs that are generally less that seven years old. Some of those Macs are running older (32-bit) programs that cannot run in the latest macOS. In fact, 32-bit programs will not run on Macs that are running Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey. So the question is: Will the increased security be worth the trade-off of potentially losing applications that you depend on?

What is the likelihood of these security issues affecting a Mac running a macOS older than Monterey?

These days, malware is almost always written for monetary gain. The most common ones redirect your search engine to serve up advertising, while most others try and scam you out of your money. It takes quite a lot of time and effort to write malware for Macs. For various reasons, it makes more sense for newer systems to be targeted.

Does that mean it is safe to be running an older macOS? Not completely safe, but you should also not necessarily expect impending disaster. So I recommend upgrading to Monterey if you are already running Catalina or Big Sur. That means you have a fairly recent Mac, and you are not running any 32-bit programs.

For folks running a macOS older than Catalina, but on a Mac that is not too old to run Monterey, it depends on whether you are ready to upgrade (or give up on) any 32-bit programs. Another complicating factor is whether you have a slower “hard drive” or a faster SSD (solid state drive). If it is a hard drive, upgrading to Mojave, Catalina, Big Sur, or Monterey can slow your computer down quite a lot.

iPhones and iPads

There are few disadvantages to keeping an iPhone or iPad up to date, with the latest updates and software upgrades (iOS and padOS). But like Macs, older iPhones and iPads cannot always be upgraded to the latest and greatest. Just run the software updates as they become available. If you have a recent iPhone or iPad, it is important to run the latest updates.