iOS 17.3 Beta Bricks Some iPhones; Users Advised Caution, Delay Update

The second beta of iOS 17.3 issued by Apple today is causing serious problems for certain iPhone users, so customers who have not yet loaded the new software may want to wait.

Some iPhones Have Been Bricked By iOS 17.3 Beta 2

Some iPhone customers who attempted to update to iOS 17.3 beta 2 reported their handsets stuck in a boot loop with a blank black screen and a locked spinning wheel, according to postings on the MacRumors forums, Twitter, and Mastodon.

Restoring to a previous version of iOS 17.3 or the iOS 17.2.1 release software appears to resolve the issue, but customers who do not have a backup may have difficulties throughout the restore process.

Not all iPhone users appear to be affected since some iPhones that have been upgraded to iOS 17.3 beta 2 appear to be unaffected. Apple has not yet commented on the glitch, but the second iOS 17.3 beta is expected to be yanked in the near future until the problem is resolved.

iOS 17.3 Launches with Enhanced Security Features to Thwart iPhone and iPad Theft

Apple's iOS 17.3 update is set to be released, along with a slew of fantastic new iPhone features, to all iPhone users. It's only been a month since the release of iOS 17.2, but iOS 17.3 is expected to arrive in January, according to reports.

The main feature of iOS 17.3 is a significant one: robust protection to prevent your stolen iPhone or iPad from being used. The iOS 17.3 feature was released in response to a Wall Street Journal investigation describing how people may eavesdrop on iPhone users' passcodes in order to sneak into their devices and cause chaos.

Stolen Device Mode in iOS 17.3 ensures that criminals cannot access passwords, change your Apple ID credentials, or turn off Lost Mode without first authenticating via Face ID or Touch ID; however, changing your Apple ID in an untrusted location will result in a one-hour security delay.

After upgrading to iOS 17.3, you can enable the new function by navigating to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turning on Stolen Device Protection.

Apple published iOS 17.2.1 last month as a surprise upgrade with unspecified security and bug improvements. Over the past year, Apple has released a number of security updates, many of which addressed holes that were used in real-world assaults to install spyware on devices.

While these attacks are frequently extremely targeted—at dissidents, firms in specific industries, and political figures—they are becoming more common in the news. Like previous iPhone updates, iOS 17.3 is anticipated to feature a variety of security improvements, possibly for holes that are already being exploited in attacks.

Because Apple no longer supports older iPhones with iOS 16 patches, the security fixes included in iOS 17 releases are becoming increasingly crucial to owners of newer devices. If your iPhone is capable of running iOS 17, it's time to bite the bullet and install the most recent software if you want to stay secure.

Photo: Bagus Hernawan/Unsplash