Apple ceases code signing for iOS 9.2.1 after successful iOS 9.3.1 release

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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in iPhone
Following the rollout of Apple's latest iOS 9.3.1 point release, the company on Tuesday stopped signing code for iOS 9.2.1, meaning users can no longer downgrade to the older operating system version.




Apple routinely ceases code signing on deemed obsolete iterations of iOS in order to ensure a consistent user experience and to protect consumers against bugs or security vulnerabilities fixed with the most recent software.

When it pushed out iOS 9.3.1 last week, Apple patched a web link bug that in some cases caused apps to freeze or crash.

Prior to the release it was discovered that a bloated associations file in popular travel app Booking.com was to blame for a host of runtime failures affecting Safari, Mail and Messages, along with third-party web browsers. The data overflow was severe enough to necessitate a new version of iOS, as simply uninstalling the offending app was not a viable solution.

Since its launch last month, iOS 9.3 has seen its fair share of problems, including an Activation Lock bug that rendered older hardware unusable. Apple pulled the update for certain iOS devices before issuing a fix last week.

More recently, iPhone 6s and 6s Plus owners were affected by an obscure security exploit that allowed nefarious users access to contact and photo data without a passcode. As the bug involved a combination of Siri, 3D Touch and certain system settings, its impact on the greater iPhone install base was likely minimal.

Apple fixed the Siri exploit earlier today.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 8
    prolineproline Posts: 222member
    This is for the best. The fewer people are able to use insecure, obsolete versions of iOS, the fewer hackers will be attracted to the iOS community in general, and the less chance that one of them will find an exploit that applies to the current version. Queue the whiners!
  • Reply 2 of 8
    joshajosha Posts: 901member
    proline said:
    This is for the best. The fewer people are able to use insecure, obsolete versions of iOS, the fewer hackers will be attracted to the iOS community in general, and the less chance that one of them will find an exploit that applies to the current version. Queue the whiners!
    OK, then when iOS9.3.2 is available I'll take an update  chance,  with my not so old nice size iPhone5c.  o:)
  • Reply 3 of 8
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    proline said:
    This is for the best. The fewer people are able to use insecure, obsolete versions of iOS, the fewer hackers will be attracted to the iOS community in general, and the less chance that one of them will find an exploit that applies to the current version. Queue the whiners!

    They whine but they don’t leave the platform because they know the grass is brown and dead on the other side of the fence. Same goes for OS X.
    prolineMacsAlwaysnolamacguy
  • Reply 4 of 8
    linkmanlinkman Posts: 1,035member
    josha said:
    proline said:
    This is for the best. The fewer people are able to use insecure, obsolete versions of iOS, the fewer hackers will be attracted to the iOS community in general, and the less chance that one of them will find an exploit that applies to the current version. Queue the whiners!
    OK, then when iOS9.3.2 is available I'll take an update  chance,  with my not so old nice size iPhone5c.  o:)

    And you are waiting for what on 9.3.2 that isn't available with 9.3.1?
  • Reply 5 of 8
    MacsAlwaysMacsAlways Posts: 14member
    linkman said:
    josha said:
    OK, then when iOS9.3.2 is available I'll take an update  chance,  with my not so old nice size iPhone5c.  o:)

    And you are waiting for what on 9.3.2 that isn't available with 9.3.1?
    Code maturity?
  • Reply 6 of 8
    teaearlegreyhotteaearlegreyhot Posts: 1,002member
    Apple really needs to quit with these perpetual iOS version updates.  Or target them only to specific devices. It's annoying to have to go through this every week, and it reveals that Apple is not thoroughly testing their systems before release.  Get it right and stop, damnit.

  • Reply 7 of 8
    nolamacguynolamacguy Posts: 4,758member
    MacsAlways said:
    linkman said:

    And you are waiting for what on 9.3.2 that isn't available with 9.3.1?
    Code maturity?
    are you serious? 9.3.2 will then be immature when compared to a possible 9.3.3, by your logic. you'll never feel its safe to upgrade.
  • Reply 8 of 8
    nolamacguynolamacguy Posts: 4,758member
    teaearlegreyhot said:
    Apple really needs to quit with these perpetual iOS version updates.  Or target them only to specific devices. It's annoying to have to go through this every week, and it reveals that Apple is not thoroughly testing their systems before release.  Get it right and stop, damnit.

    yeah nice theory, except real life. as these devices grow to millions and millions and millions of users and use cases, things happen. perfect code is impossible because human beings aren't perfect. or are you the first of a new breed of perfect human?

    id rather have a "release often" that fixes stuff than one update a year and security exploits sitting around until then. (plus you'd just bitch about them not fixing their bugs even then...so they can't win, huh?)
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