Apple Releases iOS 18.7.7 Security Update on April 1 to Protect Millions from DarkSword Exploit

Apple released iOS 18.7.7 and iPadOS 18.7.7 on April 1, 2026, providing a rare backported security update to protect users who haven't upgraded to iOS 26 from the DarkSword zero-click web-based exploit that can steal messages, location data, and cryptocurrency. The update addresses a hacking toolkit that has been used in attacks targeting users in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine, and is now publicly available on GitHub. About one-fifth of iPhones from the past four years are still running iOS 18 versions, making this unusual move to patch older software critical for millions of vulnerable devices.