With the 16.3 software update, which came out today, Apple made iOS more secure. iOS users can now use physical security keys for their Apple ID’s two-factor authentication (2FA). The company announced this new measure last year. It adds an extra layer of security for people like celebrities, journalists, and government workers who face unusual security threats.
Phishing scams, which can trick users into giving an intruder access through 2FA, can be stopped with the help of physical keys—using a device like the YubiKey means that your account can only be accessed by people who have the physical key. Some security keys plug into the Lightning port on the iPhone, but most use USB. But NFC and Bluetooth keys should work with the iPhone, and you can use the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter from Apple to connect a USB key.
The Emergency SOS controls have also been updated in iOS 16.3. You can still call 911 by holding down the power and volume-up buttons, but it will only dial 911 once you let go of those buttons. This enables you to cancel before you have to call emergency services.
The update also fixes bugs like strokes not showing up on shared boards in the Freeform app, horizontal lines showing up on the iPhone 14 Pro Max after waking up, and a bug that stopped the Home lock screen widget from showing the status of the Home app. Last but not least, it adds support for the new HomePod.
If you have a device that can run the update, you can get it by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
