Apple’s RSR updates: How they protect your iPhone and Mac from hackers

RSR is a new kind of update delivered between Apple’s regular software updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Here's why they're important.

RSR updates are not just for iPhones, they'll also be rolled out to Macs. (Image: Vista Wei/Unsplash)

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Apple’s iOS is overall considered to be a highly secure operating system, but it isn’t infallible. Hackers constantly probe for new weaknesses to exploit, and Apple swiftly fixes them, creating an endless cycle of attack and defense – like a cat-and-mouse game.

Now, to speed the process up, the Cupertino-based company for the very first time has released a Rapid Security Response (RSR) update for iPhones/iPads alongside a corresponding update for Macs. The update, which carries version number iOS 16.4.1 (a), represents a change in how Apple handles smaller updates. Let’s take a look at what RSR updates are, what they mean for your Apple devices, and how you can install them.

What is a Rapid Security Response update?

RSR is a new kind of update delivered between Apple’s regular, scheduled software updates for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. While previous software updates came bundled with new features and improvements, RSR updates are meant to bolster security alone, with a key focus on the Safari browser, the WebKit framework, and other security libraries.

Apple isn’t very specific about what the iOS 16.4.1 (a) update fixes, but you can sleep more soundly at night knowing your data is a bit more secure with it.

What do they mean for Apple users?

The iOS 16.4.1 (a) update came as a surprise since people anticipated the iOS 16.4.2 update to precede the iOS 16.5 release. This update offers quick security and bug fixes for iOS 16.4.1 and macOS 13.3.1 devices without the otherwise lengthy installation process, which usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. The update will be automatically applied to all Apple devices running the latest versions of iOS, iPad or macOS.

However, to clarify, this isn’t technically the first RSR update from Apple. The capability was introduced with iOS 16.2 but was limited to developers in beta versions. But now, with the first RSR update for regular users, the latest security enhancements should roll out quicker than before for all iPhone owners.

Also read | Apple mixed-reality headset to include iOS features: Everything you need to know

How to update to the latest RSR?

Apple says that Rapid Security Responses are applied automatically. Everything happens behind the scenes, but your device can also prompt you to restart if necessary.

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To manually check for and update to the latest RSR on iPhone and iPad, navigate to Settings > General > Software Update > Automatic Updates. Also, ensure here that “Security Responses & System Files” is toggled on.

To manually check for and update to the latest RSR on Mac, navigate from the Apple menu to System Settings > General > Software Update. Click the Show Details button next to Automatic Updates and make sure that “Install Security Responses and system files” is turned on.

After an RSR update has been applied, a letter will appear after the software version number. For example: macOS 13.3.1 (a).