iPhone users around the world have been warned to reboot their devices and update to the latest software amid a series of targeted hacks and spyware.

Apple says the situation has become urgent, with its latest data revealing 50 per cent of all eligible iPhone users had yet to upgrade their phones to secure the fixes.

Hesitancy about adopting iOS 26 has intensified following Apple’s decision to restrict the fixes exclusively to compatible iPhones that have completed the upgrade.

The tech giant warned that anyone still using iOS18 software would be unable to get future protections against the spyware that are offered under iOS26.

Many iPhone users have resisted upgrading to iOS 26.2 because of public resistance to features such as Apple’s Liquid Glass displays. 

Reports suggest adoption of iOS 26 has been unusually slow. As of January, only about 4.6 per cent of active iPhones are on iOS 26.2.

The vast majority of iPhone users are still using older releases such as iOS 18.

But the latest iOS26 update includes security features designed to shield users from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Google’s Threat Analysis Group worked alongside Apple to uncover the security breach.

Affected devices include iPhone 11 and newer models, iPad Pros, third-generation iPad Air and up, eighth-generation iPads and newer, and fifth-generation iPad Minis and newer.

Two major security flaws, labelled CVE-2025-43529 and CVE-2025-14174, have corrupted devices running iOS versions before iOS26.

The first vulnerability, known as a “use-after-free” exploit, allows hackers to trick victims’ web browsers into handing over control of their devices.

The second flaw uses memory corruption to hijack users’ iPhones and iPads, potentially giving cyber criminals access to personal data.

Apple strongly recommends users upgrade to the latest software immediately to stay protected. It advises that reboots are essential for strong security until the upgrade is completed.

“Keeping your software up to date is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product’s security,” it said.

To ensure iPhones are protected, Apple has released the following instructions to update their IOS.

“Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If your iPhone is not running either iOS 26.2 or iOS 18.7.3, go to Settings > General > Shut Down and power the device off. Or you can press and hold either volume button and the side button until the power-off slider appears,” it said.