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Apple Releases iPadOS 14.7.1 and macOS 11.5.1 with Security Notes for Recent OS
                                    Updates

   Josh Centers

   Apple usually updates all of its operating systems at once. So it was
   unusual when the company released iOS 14.7, watchOS 7.6, HomePod
   Software 14.7, and tvOS 14.7 without iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5 Big Sur
   (see '[1]iOS 14.7 Adds Support for the MagSafe Battery Pack,' 19 July
   2021). And since Apple doesn't release security notes until all
   affected operating systems are updated, those updates were a mystery.
   Apple pushed out iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5, along with security notes
   for all of last week's releases.

   Following the release of iPadOS 14.7 and macOS 11.5, Apple abruptly
   pushed out iOS 14.7.1, iPadOS 14.7.1, and macOS 11.5.1 with a fix for
   the Apple Watch not unlocking iPhones and an important security fix.

   You can install iOS 14.7.1, which is 126 MB on an iPhone 11 Pro, in
   Settings > Software Update.

iPadOS 14.7.1

   There is only one thing to say about iPadOS 14.7 that we didn't already
   cover in '[2]iOS 14.7 Adds Support for the MagSafe Battery Pack' (19
   July 2021): Apple fixed an audio-skipping bug when using USB-C to 3.5mm
   headphone adapters. The follow-up iPadOS 14.7.1 release adds an
   important security fix. We'll cover security notes for all releases
   below.

   You can install the iPadOS 14.7.1 update, which clocks in at 847.6 MB
   on a third-generation iPad Air (assuming you haven't yet updated to
   iPadOS 14.7, which is also 847.6 MB) in Settings > General > Software
   Update.

macOS 11.5.1

   The macOS 11.5 update, like the iOS and iPadOS updates, updates the
   Podcasts app so you can view either all shows or only those you follow
   in the Library tab. It also fixes bugs that prevented Music from
   updating the play count and last played date in your library and
   prevented smart card authentication from working on M1-based Macs.

   Howard Oakley has [3]some other details about macOS 11.5, such as new
   versions of core apps and included firmware updates.

   You can install the 2.93 GB (reportedly [4]3.8 GB on M1-based Macs)
   update for macOS 11.5.1 in System Preferences > Software Update.

Security Notes for Current OS Versions

   These updates address some serious security vulnerabilities. In
   particular, the iOS and iPadOS updates include this note for Wi-Fi:
   'Joining a malicious Wi-Fi network may result in a denial of service or
   arbitrary code execution.' We presume that's a fix for the Wi-Fi bug
   that could cause maliciously named access points to disable Wi-Fi on an
   iPhone or iPad (see '[5]Obscure Bug Could Disable the %p%s%s%s%s%n
   Wi-Fi on Your iPhone or iPad,' 7 July 2021). We knew the vulnerability
   could cause Wi-Fi to stop working, but from Apple's notes, it seems
   like a potential vector for malware as well.

   Here are the security notes and number of vulnerabilities fixed in each
   version (many of which are common across all the operating systems):
     * [6]iOS 14.7 and iPadOS 14.7 have 31 security fixes.
     * [7]macOS 11.5 has 35 security fixes.
     * [8]watchOS 7.6 has 21 security fixes.
     * [9]tvOS 14.7 has 20 security fixes.

   The follow-up [10]iOS 14.7.1, iPadOS 14.7.1, and [11]macOS 11.5.1
   updates address a kernel vulnerability that Apple says may have been
   actively exploited in the wild. That's extremely consequential and
   reason enough to install these updates as soon as you can.

References

   Visible links
   1. https://tidbits.com/2021/07/19/ios-14-7-adds-support-for-the-magsafe-battery-pack/
   2. https://tidbits.com/2021/07/19/ios-14-7-adds-support-for-the-magsafe-battery-pack/
   3. https://eclecticlight.co/2021/07/21/what-has-changed-in-macos-11-5/
   4. https://eclecticlight.co/2021/07/21/apple-has-now-released-big-sur-11-5-update/
   5. https://tidbits.com/2021/07/07/obscure-bug-could-disable-the-pssssn-wi-fi-on-your-iphone-or-ipad/
   6. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212601
   7. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212602
   8. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212605
   9. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212604
  10. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212623
  11. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212622

   Hidden links:
  12. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/07/iOS-1471.jpeg
  13. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/07/iPadOS-147.jpeg
  14. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2021/07/macOS-11.5-update-notes.png

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