A combination of new code spotted by Macworld and 9to5Mac suggests that Apple may be set to make two iOS 26 security changes which will make iPhones safer. Historically, Apple has issued security patches as part of a new iOS build. This has two significant disadvantages which can leave many iPhones unprotected against the latest threats for longer than necessary … The first is that each new iOS version takes time to develop, and security updates had to wait for this work to be complete. Second, Apple had to rely on users to download and install these. Not everybody installs updates promptly, leaving their devices vulnerable until they get around to it. We saw the first shift in approach back in 2023, when the company introduced Rapid Security Responses. These were standalone security updates that didn’t need to wait for a new version of iOS. However, they still relied on users installing them promptly, which didn’t always happen. Two iOS 26 security changes seem likely Macworld spotted code in the iOS 26.1 developer beta 1, which suggests that the company is switching from Rapid Security Responses to a new system called Background Security Improvements. The critical difference, as the name suggests, is that they can be silently installed in the background without any user action. According to code discovered in the beta by Macworld, the system will soon be called Background Security Improvements. The feature doesn’t seem to be available to users running the beta, but its existence in the code suggests it’s coming soon […] The new Background Security Improvements will be installed silently on the device without needing to manually update. Previously, users had to download Rapid Security Responses through the Settings app just like any other iOS update. The site says code suggests this new approach is coming to macOS too. Additionally, 9to5Mac has spotted changes which suggest Apple is moving to a security model that would allow critical components to be updated without requiring a reboot. We don’t know for sure that the two changes will be simultaneously introduced, but it would obviously be great news if so – meaning that iPhones would be automatically protected against newly-discovered threats as soon as Apple releases a patch. Highlighted accessories Photo by Oleksandr Chumak on Unsplash