Apple is rolling out the latest version of iOS and macOS to compatible devices. iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2 fix many bugs and now support physical security keys.
You can now start updating your iPhone and your Mac. Apple began rolling out iOS 16.3 to iPhones last night, and macOS Ventura 13.2 to compatible Macs. These two updates have one thing in common: in addition to fixing many bugs, they introduce the same options on the iPhone as on the Mac to strengthen your security.
iCloud Advanced Data Protection available to everyone
First new feature common to iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2, the arrival of Advanced Data Protection. The function, which was only available in the United States since December, is now available to users around the world.
Behind this somewhat mysterious name actually hides the end-to-end encryption of your backups in iCloud. As surprising as it may seem, this has not been the case so far. Now, almost all of your smartphone data stored in iCloud is encrypted and can only be unlocked on a trusted device. Apple does not have the decryption key for this data, which cannot be consulted either by Cupertino, or by the police or any hackers who have managed to break into iCloud. Only setback, as you are now solely responsible for this decryption key (or a trusted contact), the loss of the latter will in fact lead to the loss of your data. Apple will not be able to help you recover it.
To activate Advanced Data Protection, go to the Settings > Your iCloud Account > iCloud > Advanced Data Protection.
Double authentication using physical security key now possible
This is the other big new security feature in iOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2. Physical security keys meeting the FIDO standard (such as Yubikey) can now be used to validate connections to an Apple account requiring double authentication. Currently, the only solution available is to enter a six-digit code received on another Apple device logged into the same iCloud account.
For the rest, iOS 16.3 introduces a new Unity wallpaper to the iPhone to “celebrate the history and culture of the black community on the occasion of Black History Month”. Apple also took advantage of this update to fix several bugs, but also to optimize the shortcut needed to make an emergency call. From now on, to use the function, it will be necessary to hold down the side button and one of the two volume buttons before releasing them to make an emergency call. A change made to avoid involuntary emergency calls.
Apple
