Apple has made history by releasing its first-ever Rapid Security Response (RSR) update to the general public. Previously, RSR updates were only available to beta testers or developers using pre-release versions of Apple’s mobile operating systems. Both iOS 16.4.1 and iPadOS 16.4.1 are now receiving the RSR update, which should be fully rolled out within the next 48 hours.
After installing the RSR update, your iPhone or iPad will display an “(a)” in the About section, indicating that you are now on iOS 16.4.1 (a) or iPadOS 16.4.1 (a). This is an important move from Apple as it demonstrates the company’s commitment to swiftly addressing security vulnerabilities and keeping its users’ devices safe.
The good news is that RSR updates are set to be applied automatically by default, and only take a couple of minutes to download and install. While some may require a restart, you’ll be prompted when they’re finished. However, if you prefer, you can turn off automatic installation of RSR updates through Settings. Keep in mind, though, that these updates are crucial for your device’s security, so it’s probably best to let them happen as Apple intends.
It’s worth noting that going forward, RSR updates will only be available to those running the absolute latest versions of iOS and iPadOS. So, if you want to stay up-to-date and secure, make sure you’re running the latest version of your operating system.
