Apple's new Background Security Improvements (as of 26.1)

Software
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So Apple states:

Background Security Improvements delivers additional security protections between software updates.

Background Security Improvements delivers lightweight security releases for components such as the Safari browser, WebKit framework stack and other system libraries that benefit from smaller, ongoing security patches between software updates.

In rare instances of compatibility issues, Background Security Improvements may be temporarily removed and then enhanced in a subsequent software update.

Background Security Improvements is supported and enabled for future releases starting with iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1 and macOS 26.1. General information will be published on the Apple Support site after each release – along with CVE details, if any.

Now I’m all for security updates. But, I want to know when these updates are going to be installed and I want to give explicit approval each time. Just in case I’m not happy with what they’re trying to install. I need to know when something is trying to install something on my system.

However, if I turn this setting off Apple disable Apple Pay. Whaaat!!!

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I’m not a happy bunny. By all means tell me there is a security update. But notify me and ask me to install it. Don’t take away my control of my machine.

Rant over.

1 Like
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+1

But I ran into this “feature” some weeks ago, while setting up Apple Pay. AFAIK, it was before I updated my devices.

3

That is NOT good.

I just got around to updating my iPhone to 26.1. I would have done it sooner but I was on call for work. When I’m on call, I do not do updates. I cannot have my phone unusable for any amount of time on purpose and I certainly can’t afford for there to be issues resulting from an update.

I don’t use my Mac for work, but I used to (remote Citrix). Back then, the same rule applied to my Mac. No updates when I’m on call. Period.