Apple made an unusual decision on Wednesday, April 1, and released a new version of iOS 18.7.7 to combat a new hacking toolkit called DarkSword. Now, more devices, like the iPhone 16e, can download the update to protect themselves from the toolkit without having to update to iOS 26. This update was only available on iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR models when it was originally released March 24.
To download iOS 18.7.7, go to Settings > General > Software Update. If the update is available on your device, you should see a prompt to download and install it.
“We enabled the availability of iOS 18.7.7 for more devices on April 1, 2026, so users with Automatic Updates turned on can automatically receive important security protections from web attacks called DarkSword,” Apple wrote in the update’s vulnerabilities notes.
Apple’s decision to release this update is odd because the company usually recommends updating your device to the most recent iOS version for the most protection, rather than issuing an update to an older version. But the company is still recommending people download iOS 26 to protect their device against DarkSword.
“If possible, update to the latest version of iOS 26, which contains the strongest security protections,” Apple wrote.
About one-fifth of iPhones from the past four years are still running a version of iOS 18, according to Apple’s own data. That means those devices are vulnerable to DarkSword, which could access data on your device, like your messages and crypto wallets.
DarkSword attacks do appear to be limited to people outside the US, specifically in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Ukraine, according to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group. But TechCrunch found the toolkit publicly available on GitHub. So it could be easier for more malicious actors to deploy DarkSword.
“Public availability of this kit is extremely worrisome given the high number of remaining active vulnerable devices,” Christoph Hebeisen, director of security intelligence research for the firm Lookout, told CNET’s Katelyn Chedraoui. “Opportunistic attacks using this exploit kit appear very likely.”
So if you can’t update to iOS 26 because your device doesn’t support it — or you just don’t want to update to the latest version — you should download iOS 18.7.7 now. Seriously, please do it. And if your phone doesn’t support iOS 18, Apple suggests Lockdown Mode to keep your device safe.
For more iOS news, here’s what to know about iOS 26.4 and all the tips and tricks in iOS 26 now.