Apple has been beta testing iOS 26.6 since the end of May. Unlike other updates, version x.6 is usually one of the most annoying for an iOS cycle, as it comes at a time when the company has already announced plans for its next big update, which will be released around fall. This time, however, iOS 26.6 Beta 5 shows that Apple is working on a “Malicious Message Detected” feature, which can notify you if someone is trying to harm you or your iPhone and gives you the option to share the message with Apple so that it can investigate the attack and improve future protections.
First discovered by user X limpless_skelly, the new feature detects when a message could be a possible attack via iMessage. Here’s how Apple describes it: “Apple has detected a message from a sender who may attempt to damage your iPhone or compromise your privacy. The most important step you can take to protect yourself and others from similar attacks is to share the message with Apple.”
After that, users can choose to leave it for later, share it with Apple, or not report it at all. Usually, iMessage attacks target journalists, influencers, celebrities, and politicians. That’s why Apple even offers a lock mode, which greatly protects the iPhone from attackers, and it is especially useful when the person thinks that their device might be subject to a hacker attack.
Apple continues its saga against hackers
According to Woozad, the code for iOS 26.6 beta 5 confirms that Apple has tested this feature, but it is still unclear what specific conditions could cause this message to appear. The post suggests this could be linked to sophisticated exploits or other phishing attempts in the Messages app, which have been very common, leaving Apple scrambling to patch related click-less attacks. From what we know so far, this may be the only notable feature of iOS 26.6, as the company is expected to release the official public version for all users by the end of July.
Additionally, with a recent iOS 26.5.2 update, Apple continued to show that it is trying to combat sophisticated attacks by fixing several bugs and protecting iPhone users from AI-assisted attacks. Although no hackers have exploited these flaws, Apple told Reuters that, “given the ability of artificial intelligence to accelerate the development of malicious hacking tools,” the company needed to “reduce the time between when updates are first made public and when they get into the hands of customers.”
With iOS 26, Apple added behind-the-scenes security improvements, which allow Apple to update users’ iPhones without requiring a proper system reboot. While the company hasn’t made much use of this feature yet, it’s still something every user should enable to ensure Apple can quickly patch a major flaw before an attack is made by hackers. There are also several other security tips that iPhone users can follow to ensure their devices are protected.
How to protect your iPhone while you wait
While Apple continues to work on the above feature, one of the easiest ways to ensure your device is protected is to enable automatic updates for operating systems and apps. This ensures that whenever your iPhone is connected to power and has a strong Wi-Fi connection, it will update everything. In addition to this, focus on downloading apps from trusted developers.
If you live in a country where a third-party app store is available, you should continue to use the Apple App Store if you are concerned about security, as Apple says it includes strict sandboxing and automated malware scanning before an app reaches users. Another important tip is to update your device every few years. While software updates fix most issues, other flaws can be found in hardware, where the only option is to get a newer device with updated chips. That said, it’s important to note that this isn’t due to poor engineering on Apple’s part, but because bad actors have had years to thoroughly test, stress, and exploit older physical components.
Finally, avoiding connecting to public Wi-Fi networks and refraining from plugging into public USB ports are important ways to protect yourself against possible attacks. Checking app permissions also ensures that you only allow them to see the data you want them to see: if an app asks for more than it should, the best solution is to revoke its permissions.
