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  Apple Focuses on Security in iOS 18.6, macOS 15.6, and Other x.6 OS Updates

   Adam Engst

   Apple has released updates to all its current operating systems,
   advertising them as providing 'important bug fixes and security
   updates,' without giving further details on the bugs. Here's what you
   will find:
     * [1]iOS 18.6 and [2]iPadOS 18.6: Apple says that these updates fix a
       bug in Photos that prevented sharing memory movies. For users in
       the European Union, these updates also introduce significant
       [3]changes to App Store rules, adding a new interface for
       installing alternative app marketplaces or downloading apps
       directly from developers' websites. [4]Apple was forced to make the
       changes by the EU's Digital Markets Act; the company has said it is
       appealing the decision. Additionally, the [5]iOS 18.6 enterprise
       release notes state that managed apps can now browse managed
       locations in the Files picker and the certificate picker displays
       correctly for Single Sign-On Web applications. [6]iPadOS 18.6's
       enterprise release notes add that temporary sessions defined by a
       device management service on a Shared iPad will now log out
       correctly when the timer expires. These updates address [7]24
       security vulnerabilities.
     * [8]macOS 15.6 Sequoia: Although Apple's main release notes don't
       describe any of the bugs fixed in this update, the [9]enterprise
       release notes reveal that the softwareupdate 'fetch-full-installer
       Terminal command now completes successfully, Macs using transparent
       proxy extensions no longer fail to obtain IP addresses via DHCP,
       Setup Assistant completes successfully even if device management
       skips both Terms and Conditions and data migration, Macs will no
       longer boot to Recovery after installing a software update,
       platform SSO enrollment no longer fails when an associated domains
       configuration is required, and the authentication timeout is
       increased when manually entering 802.1X credentials. macOS 15.6
       addresses a whopping [10]81 security vulnerabilities.
     * [11]watchOS 11.6: Apple's release notes offer no details about bug
       fixes, but the update addresses [12]17 security vulnerabilities.
     * [13]visionOS 2.6: As with watchOS, Apple remains mum regarding bug
       fixes but does acknowledge fixes for [14]19 security
       vulnerabilities.
     * [15]tvOS 18.6: In my best rendition of a broken record, Apple says
       nothing about bug fixes but does admit to addressing [16]19
       security vulnerabilities.
     * [17]HomePod Software 18.6: The release notes use Apple's standard
       'performance and stability improvements' verbiage for HomePods.

   Apple also released macOS 14.7.7 Sonoma with fixes for [18]50 security
   vulnerabilities, macOS 13.7.7 Ventura with fixes for [19]41 security
   vulnerabilities, and iPadOS 17.7.9 with fixes for [20]18 security
   vulnerabilities.

   Practically speaking, there's little reason for most people to look
   through the release notes because nothing in them is likely to affect
   how you use your devices. You should install these updates at your
   convenience because they'particularly macOS 15.6'address so many
   security vulnerabilities. None are being actively exploited in the
   wild, so there's no reason to hurry.

   Given Apple's typical release patterns, these will likely be the final
   feature updates for the x.6 operating systems. Subsequent releases will
   be limited to security fixes after the OS 26 releases come out,
   likely in September.

References

   1. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121161
   2. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121161
   3. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/26/app-store-eu-rule-change-dma/
   4. https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=awedznci
   5. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121158
   6. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121159
   7. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124147
   8. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149
   9. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121011
  10. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124149
  11. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121163
  12. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124155
  13. https://support.apple.com/en-us/121164
  14. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124154
  15. https://support.apple.com/en-us/106336
  16. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124153
  17. https://support.apple.com/en-us/108045
  18. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124150
  19. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124151
  20. https://support.apple.com/en-us/124148

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