One of the new features in iOS 16 is Rapid Security Response, which lets Apple push out important security fixes to users without requiring a full iOS update. For users running the iOS 16.2 beta, Apple today released one of those updates to deliver unspecified bug fixes affecting the software. iOS Security Response 16.2 (a) arrives via the standard Software Update mechanism in the Settings app, but is a relatively quick update, requiring just a couple of minutes to download and prepare the update and then a quick restart and install process.

After the update has been installed, the system will report an updated version of iOS 16.2 (a), and tapping on the version in the About section of Settings will display information about your installed iOS version and the Rapid Security Response update, with the ability to remove the security update if desired.

Article Link: Apple Releases Rapid Security Response Update for iOS 16.2 Beta Users

Nov. 17 2022

Apple releases iOS 16.2a.1.02

Fixes an issue which caused some Apple devices to become unresponsive after certain rapid security responses when using Emergency SOS and a Bluetooth device simultaneously while touching the mmw antenna.

I think RSR is something Apple should have developed long ago. A great additional feature would be to get cellular carriers to not have RSR updates count against data limits so that fewer people turn off RSR.

Hopefully we see more of this. In the past, there would be full exploits discovered my researchers, they would give Apple an appropriate notification and waiting period, and then release it to the wild without Apple releasing a fix. It was ridiculous.

Probably just a test of the system to make sure it works as expected.

I wonder if this was an actual update, or a test of the rapid response system?

Maybe one day, in the distant future, they'll also be able to push out updates to apps such as Mail, Calendar etc. without requiring a whole new iOS install.

KaliYoni said:

I think RSR is something Apple should have developed long ago. A great additional feature would be to get cellular carriers to not have RSR updates count against data limits so that fewer people turn off RSR.

I don’t think cellular data usage is going to be the main thought or concern here. I’m guessing that RSR is going to be portrayed / insinuated as a system to deliver whatever is needed per theory. I mean, the annual iOS updates are derided enough already as ‘planned obsolescence’. Let alone the point releases killing battery life or whatever. e.g. forum statements of, “I’m never upgrading to iOS zxy because reason abcd!” But now they’re giving me no option? Just FORCING ME to accept the new update? Grr!

iObama said:

Wasn't a big part of RSR not having to restart?

Yeah I’m surprised it requires a restart, what’s the point then? Guess it’s *just* a restart and not a full install sequence but still

kalafalas said:

Yeah I’m surprised it requires a restart, what’s the point then?

The point was not having to wait for a full OS update to get security patches. I do not recall them saying no restart was required.

If you have to restart then this is functionally no different than a minor ios point update.

kalafalas said:

Yeah I’m surprised it requires a restart, what’s the point then?

Yeah. This seems like the same thing as macOS Security Updates which were released separately from general macOS updates. Unless I’m mistaken, I believe Apple stopped releasing these separately for macOS, since Big Sur.

I don’t think it’s a bad idea to have a separate approach for security releases, but I would prefer Apple be consistent with their approach.

adrianlondon said:

Maybe one day, in the distant future, they'll also be able to pish out updates to apps such as Mail, Calendar etc. without requiring a whole new iOS install.

They have no intention of ever doing that even if it is possible.
The main driver to entice users to upgrade to the next version of ios (which will slow down their phone) is to have rhe next version have upgrades to their built in software.
Want improvements to Mail? Upgrade the entire OS (and pay the performance hit.

The number one driver for people to buy a newer iPhone is a performance improvement that newer installed versions of iOS took away.

Security Responses only require 10% battery or the device to be charging (I have 8% currently and did not have to wait). Also, the restart is really quick and only takes ~5 seconds. I have no idea how it's not obvious that this is much better than regular updates for security fixes ...

So if I get this setting on,
a) phone will restart on its own like damn Windows 10 with Office updates (2 times already I was kicked out of meeting I was leading and screen sharing 🥲)

b) phone will ask me to restart?

I hope the second

MrRom92 said:

If you have to restart then this is functionally no different than a minor ios point update.

Except even a little iOS update takes minutes to download and then even more time to install. This requires a five second restart. You could literally do it whenever you put your phone down and don't have to worry if you might need your phone in a few minutes.

adrianlondon said:

Maybe one day, in the distant future, they'll also be able to pish out updates to apps such as Mail, Calendar etc. without requiring a whole new iOS install.

Agree would be cool

They need to rename it... Rapid SECURITY response, but they are using it as a rapid bugfixer? What?

addamas said:

So if I get this setting on,
a) phone will restart on its own like damn Windows 10 with Office updates (2 times already I was kicked out of meeting I was leading and screen sharing 🥲)

b) phone will ask me to restart?

I hope the second

Probably the second but I could imagine they'll prompt you to install the Security Response more often whenever they think you won't use your phone for a few seconds.

ChrisFromNEPA said:

They need to rename it... Rapid SECURITY response, but they are using it as a rapid bugfixer? What?

They are using it to fix security bugs, if that wasn't obvious from the description of the Security Response ...

They have it all backwards. We should be able to remove the feature update/upgrade versions. We ought to not have any sort of need to remove security hotfixes.

Yebubbleman said:

They have it all backwards. We should be able to remove the feature update/upgrade versions. We ought to not have any sort of need to remove security hotfixes.

Yea, it’s interesting decision.

MrRom92 said:

If you have to restart then this is functionally no different than a minor ios point update.

Even small X.x.1 or X.X.2 updates usually require a 700 MB to one gigabyte download, a long verification process, and a full restart and install sequence which usually takes 7-10 minutes where your phone is completely unusable.
These rapid security responses, at least this first one, literally only takes about five minutes to download, and a normal restart, which is like 20 seconds.
That means the entire time, your phone is only unusable for about 20 seconds.
Thats a pretty big difference between 10 minutes and 20 seconds.

addamas said:

So if I get this setting on,
a) phone will restart on its own like damn Windows 10 with Office updates (2 times already I was kicked out of meeting I was leading and screen sharing 🥲)

b) phone will ask me to restart?

I hope the second

It will more than likely do exactly what the auto update setting already does, and update your phone overnight.

Yebubbleman said:

They have it all backwards. We should be able to remove the feature update/upgrade versions. We ought to not have any sort of need to remove security hotfixes.

Nope. Since RSRs are “required” updates, Apple needs to ensure that companies and schools can remove an update the breaks something. And, since these are NOT subject to a beta cycle, there is no way to blame the application or the user.

It is also important to understand how these updates work compared to regular updates. In a regular update, a copy of the seal OS is made to RAM, the patches applied, and then the device is restarted. During the restart, the installer application copies the update copy of the OS from RAM back in to the sealed volume and signs it. The installer is the ONLY application allowed to write to the OS volume.

For RSRs, the patch is left in RAM and the OS knows to use the updated version. That is why the update is faster, no need to write back to the signed volume. I thought they could be applied without a restart, but apparently some updates may require a restart, which makes sense since some patches are probably kernel level.