iOS 7.1 released, patching bugs and fixing the White Screen of Death

Apple has just released iOS 7.1, the latest versions of its mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad users, and owners of the devices are recommended to upgrade as soon as possible.

As well as making minor tweaks to the iOS user interface, the long-awaited update to the operating system includes a fix for a random rebooting problem that was impacting some iPhone 5S, iPad mini with Retina display and iPad Air users.

In January, Apple told Mashable that a fix for the so-called “White Screen of Death” was in the works so affected users will be relieved to hear that it’s now here.

iOS 7.1 is also said to patch a security vulnerability relied upon by the Evasi0n team to jailbreak iOS 7 devices.

I personally don’t have a problem if you choose to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad with your eyes wide open to the potential issues, but it’s clear that Apple is keen to stamp out the practice if possible. Furthermore, it’s obvious that if jailbreakers can exploit flaws in iOS for their non-malicious purposes, then those same weaknesses might be a route for more ill-intentioned hackers to do their dirty work too.

The iOS 7.1 update comes only a few weeks after Apple released an emergency update for iOS, fixing a critical security hole that could have allowed hackers to intercept what should have been secure communications between your iPhone and SSL-protected websites.

If you didn’t install that update (and you really should have done if possible), don’t waste any time and leapfrog up to iOS 7.1 as soon as you can.

In order to update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 7.1, plug it in and install the update by visiting Settings / General / Software Update.

And if you’re finding the security updates for your Apple iPhone somewhat of a nuisance, just think of the alternative. No updates at all. Does that sound good to you, in a world when security vulnerabilities get exploited by organised criminals?

Just ask your Android-owning friends when they last updated the operating systems on their devices – the answer might reveal that they’re in a much worse situation than you.

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Graham Cluley •   @gcluley

Graham Cluley is an award-winning keynote speaker who has given presentations around the world about cybersecurity, hackers, and online privacy. A veteran of the computer security industry since the early 1990s, he wrote the first ever version of Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit for Windows, makes regular media appearances, and is the co-host of the popular "Smashing Security" podcast. Follow him on Twitter, Mastodon, Threads, Bluesky, or drop him an email.