Apple’s new repaid security response is better than the regular software update
Apple introduced a new feature to its operating systems such as iOS, iPads, and macOS, called Rapid Security Response. That is a revolutionary decision from Apple to protect Apple devices from the attack of malware and security exploits.
Before the release of Apple’s new rapid security response features, apple users had to wait for the regular software updates where Apple included the patches for the security exploits of the previous software version. However, Apple users now do not have to wait for the regular software update for security patches. Now, apple users can choose to install the system security patches update automatically on their iPhone, iPad, and Mac. But the fact is that though Apple introduced this new feature in 2022, many Apple users do not know what is the Rapid Security Response and the benefits of this new feature. In this article, you will learn about Apple’s new rapid security response which is shortly known as RSR, how it works, and the advantages of this over the regular software update.
Apple always provides software updates regularly to its users for various reasons. Some software update fixes minor bugs of the previous software version while some software updates add new features. But in most of the cases, along with the regular software update, the updates for the security patches are included. Now suppose, you are using your iPhone with the latest iOS version and Apple releases a new regular software update but you might not update your phone for a few weeks and in that time, there are some security exploits on the current software version that increase the possibility of cyber threats. But with the introduction of rapid security response, apple limited the update to the security patches only that are smaller than the regular software update in terms of size. As the rapid security response is restricted to the security fixes only, the amount of code that needs to be developed also reduces. All of these result the less amount of time to develop and test which allows Apple to release any update for the security fixes immediately. Simply, Apple’s regular software update includes bug fixes, new features, and security updates, while the rapid security response only includes security fixes.
How Apple’s Rapid Security Response Works
Apple’s operating systems are very secure because of their close-source structure and restrictions. As the Apple operating systems are close-source, it is impossible to modify the OS. Even Apple can not modify the installed OS resulting in installing a whole new OS when it makes any changes in the specific software version. The RSR is just like a patch that is applied on top of the operating system. If all goes well, the fix is then applied to the full OS update. By quickly releasing security patches, apple limited the possibility of attackers using the security exploits of any current version. To find Apple’s new security response option you have to follow the below steps:
- From your iOS/iPadOS device, Go to Settings> General>Software Update>Automatic UpdatesTurn on Download and install Update. The new security responses and system files items there.
- From the MAC, open Settings>General>Software update>Tap” I” of the automatic update. Then you can find which update you want to download including the RSR.
When you toggle on the features, the systems will monitor for the available security patches and download them. Once downloaded, it will be prompted to install and restart your device. The security updates for the Safari browser are also included here. According to Apple, “some system files will always be installed automatically, even if Security Responses & System Files is turned off”.
The advantages of Apple’s new rapid security response features
There are some key benefits of Apple’s new rapid security response. One of the most important benefits associated with it is that it’s faster. The RSR is faster to build as less code is here. That’s why Apple does not have to take so much time to develop and test and can immediately release the RSR update if any security patches are needed.
Another vital reason is that RSR updates do not take so much time for the installation process. When it comes to regular software updates, some users do not want to update for the long installation process. But RSR updates just take only a few minutes and may need to restart or not depending on the type of security patches the update included.
Besides, the RSR update is safer than the regular software update. For the regular software update, sometimes it looks like the updated version has some bugs or security issues and in that case, the user needs to wait again for the next software update. However, users can reverse the RSR update at any time. To do this the users have to Go to Settings> General>About> iOS version or iPados version to see any recently applied RSR> click on the button to remove any recently applied RSR update.
Finally, sometimes there is not enough space in the storage to install regular software updates as the regular software update is larger than the RSR. But to fix the security, users must install the complete regular software update by deleting any existing file. But, when it comes to RSR updates, it is smaller in size and the users do not need to worry about the space of the phone storage.
Conclusion
The RSR update is more convenient for the user to download and install. Besides, the less developing and releasing time of the RSR update reduces the amount of risks from the attackers to use the security exploit of any current software version.
