Apple pushes 'critical' software alerts to iPhones running out-of-date versions of iOS — here's how to stay safe

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• Apple is pushing iOS alerts to older handsets
• You need to apply the latest updates to stay protected
• This affects iOS 13 through to iOS 17.2.1

Earlier this month Apple took the rare step of issuing a public security warning to users running out-of-date versions of iOS on their iPhones, and how the company has gone further, pushing alerts to the lock screens of vulnerable devices.

As spotted by MacRumors, the alert comes labeled as a "Critical Software" update, and urges users to get their phones patched to protect against "attacks targeting out-of-date iOS software, including the version on your iPhone".

The attacks Apple is referring to here include fraudulent and compromising web links created through the exploit kits Coruna and DarkSword. As the official support document says, following one of these links ...