iOS 26.6 will warn you of malicious iMessages

Apple is adding a new warning about malicious iMessages in iOS 26.6, according to X user @limpless_skelly, who shared a mockup of the notification.

The pop-up will warn users that a message might attempt to harm their iPhone or compromise their privacy. Apple asks users to share the post so it can guard against future attacks, and there are “Not Now,” “Share with Apple,” and “Don’t Report” options to tap. Not now will likely cause the pop-up to reappear later.

The actual alert has not yet been seen, but the code in iOS 26.6 beta 5 confirms that it is indeed the beta version. It’s not yet clear which messages will cause it to appear, but it could be a response to sophisticated exploits and phishing attempts in the Messages app. Apple added a “BlastDoor” sandbox security system to Messages in iOS 14, but in 2021 there was a no-click iMessage exploit that was able to bypass it and install spyware on the target device. Apple has since added iMessage lock mode and contact key verification for added security, as well as spam filtering.

Unfortunately, the alert looks similar to some of the fake scam pop-ups that appear in Safari, which might confuse iPhone users.

Apple has released five beta versions of iOS 26.6 so far, and its public launch is just around the corner. We expect the update to release around the end of July.