Apple Continues Building Out Rapid Security Response Feature in iOS 16.4 Beta

Apple is continuing to improve the Rapid Security Response (RSR) feature that's built into iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura, according to code found in the latest iOS 16.4 beta.

apple rapid security response
New Rapid Security Response code in iOS 16.4 beta 3 adds wording about apps that could be incompatible with security updates. "Some apps may be closing unexpectedly due to incompatibility with the latest iOS rapid security response. Removing the security response may fix this," reads Apple's wording.

There are also rollback alerts that can let users know if there's an issue with an RSR release. "Possible iOS Security Response Issue," is the text that users could see in the future.

Apple has released several Rapid Security Response updates, with the first having come out in November. So far, all of these updates have been limited to iPhone and iPad users running betas, and they seem to have been provided in a test capacity.

Apple appears to be still working on perfecting the RSR process, and it does not look like any of the releases have included security fixes as of yet, based on Apple's security support document. This document outlines all updates that have vulnerability fixes, and no RSR releases are listed.

No RSRs have been provided to the general public as of yet, which also suggests that Apple is not yet ready to use the option as a stop-gap between software updates.

Announced as part of ‌iOS 16‌, ‌iPadOS 16‌, and ‌macOS Ventura‌, Rapid Security Response updates are meant to allow Apple to provide security fixes to users without a complete iOS update. Rapid Security Responses can be installed quickly, and they can be rolled back if it becomes necessary, as the iOS 16.4 code suggests.

Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16

Top Rated Comments

!!! Avatar
2 weeks ago

Sounds like Rapid Security Responses are layered on top of existing code, allowing them to be rolled back. Maybe it sets updated files aside instead of overwriting them?
Sounds more like they're taking advantage of APFS snapshots.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sciomar Avatar
2 weeks ago

The complexity of this helps argue against 3rd party app stores.
I am sure when third party stores become real on iPhone there will be many patches as those stores try to develop ways to break further in.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redbeard331 Avatar
2 weeks ago

This is the next step for device security. This is no longer your fathers iPhone. :rolleyes:
It’s your grandfathers iPhone.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nt5672 Avatar
2 weeks ago
Or maybe they are not ready for prime time yet.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HorstBockman Avatar
2 weeks ago
The complexity of this helps argue against 3rd party app stores.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
augustrushrox Avatar
2 weeks ago
It's really annoying how these "rapid security response" updates take just about as long to apply as normal updates.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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