---
title: "Apple releases iOS 18.7.7 to protect older iPhones from DarkSword"
description: "After the DarkSword exploit kit leaked, Apple shipped a security update for iPhones and iPads still on iOS 18."
url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/apple-ios-18-7-7-darksword-fix
language: en # English
type: news
published: 2026-04-01T19:02:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-02T03:03:33.000Z
author: "Osamah Ismail"
author_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/en/author/1
section: "Security"
tags: ["Apple","iOS 18","DarkSword","security","update"]
sources: ["Apple Support","TechCrunch"]
image: https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/wwdc24-ios18-homescreen-01-a7e4385d.jpg
translations:
  ku: https://kurddevelopers.com/news/apple-ios-18-7-7-darksword-fix
  ar: https://kurddevelopers.com/ar/news/apple-ios-18-7-7-darksword-fix
publisher: Kurd Developers
publisher_url: https://kurddevelopers.com/
---

# Apple releases iOS 18.7.7 to protect older iPhones from DarkSword

> After the DarkSword exploit kit leaked, Apple shipped a security update for iPhones and iPads still on iOS 18.

![Image: Apple](https://kurddevelopers.com/uploads/2026/11/wwdc24-ios18-homescreen-01-a7e4385d.jpg)

## What's new
On April 1, Apple released **iOS 18.7.7** and **iPadOS 18.7.7** to protect devices from **DarkSword** web attacks.

The exploit kit had been published openly on GitHub days earlier.

## How DarkSword works
- It can break into devices running **iOS 18.4 through 18.7**.
- A user only needs to visit a website hosting the malicious code.
- Attacks were seen targeting users in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine.

## Who is protected
- **iOS 26** users were protected weeks ago.
- This update covers people who can move to iOS 26 but haven't, and older devices.
- Apple says **Lockdown Mode** also defends against DarkSword, and it is unaware of any successful spyware attack on a device with Lockdown Mode on.

## What to do
Go to Settings → General → Software Update and install the update.

**Sources:** Apple Support, TechCrunch

---

Published by [Kurd Developers](https://kurddevelopers.com/) on 2026-04-01. Cite as: “Apple releases iOS 18.7.7 to protect older iPhones from DarkSword”, Kurd Developers, https://kurddevelopers.com/en/news/apple-ios-18-7-7-darksword-fix