Apple iOS 6.0.1 Fixes Bugs, Patches Security

Apple has released iOS 6.0.1, the first system software update for the iPhone 5. According to the company it addresses a number of bugs and 4 security vulnerabilities.

Users of iPhone 3GS or later, iPad 2 or 3 and iPod Touch 4th generation or later can download and install the update using Settings-General-Software Update, or by synching through iTunes. As indicated just below, some iPhone 5 users may have to perform the update through iTunes.

Apple lists the following bugs fixed, but indicates that there are others:

• Fixes a bug that prevents iPhone 5 from installing software updates wirelessly over the air
• Fixes a bug where horizontal lines may be displayed across the keyboard
• Fixes an issue that could cause camera flash to not go off
• Improves reliability of iPhone 5 and iPod touch (5th generation) when connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks
• Resolves an issue that prevents iPhone from using the cellular network in some instances
• Consolidated the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match
• Fixes a Passcode Lock bug which sometimes allowed access to Passbook pass details from lock screen
• Fixes a bug affecting Exchange meetings

The last bug, affecting Exchange, became somewhat notorious: If one user invited to a meeting declined, all users would be sent a cancellation notice. The bug caused so much trouble that some companies urged users not to upgrade to iOS 6.

The security issues are all serious, although it's doubtful any of them are being exploited in the wild, let alone widely. 2 are bugs in WebKit, the HTML rendering engine in iOS and many non-Apple web browsers. Both would allow compromise of the phone simply by visiting a web page. This sort of bug has been used in the past as part of jailbreaking.

At the same time, Apple released the first beta of iOS 6.1 to developers. The changes in this version sound minimal.