This is why you should update your Apple devices right now

Apple recently released a new software update for both iOS and MacOS and the company is urging people who use Apple products to install the update as soon as possible. The company says the patch is critical to avoid potential hacking of your devices, including iPhones, iPads and Mac computers.

The update is designed to fix the dangerous vulnerability called Broadpwn, which is said to allow hackers to “execute arbitrary code.” Nitay Artenstein, a security researcher at Exodus Intelligence, told Fortune that Broadpwn could allow hackers to take over your Apple device using Wi-Fi chips that are embedded within a device’s main processor.

What’s even more alarming is that Artenstein, who first revealed the flaw, says hackers are easily able to target your Apple devices as long as they are within range.

Broadpwn is being considered a serious threat and, according to the National Vulnerability Database, which is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, it’s ranking a high score of 9.8 out of 10 in severity.

Thankfully though, the problem was exposed and there is now a fix for it.

How To Get The Latest Update

If you use an iPhone or iPad, go to the “Settings” menu and tap “General.” This should bring you to a screen where there’s the option to select “Software Update,” where you’ll want to be sure you install iOS 10.3.3.

If you’re using a Mac computer, then you’ll want to select the “Updates” tab within the App Store to ensure you’re running the latest version, which is Sierra 10.12.6.

By downloading the latest versions of software for your Apple products, you should reduce the risk of potentially having your devices hacked.

And in case you have any Android devices in your home, a similar issue was detected, but thankfully Google was also able provide a patch with the newest version of its software.

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So, what are you waiting for? Go update your phone!

Peer-To-Peer Payments Coming This Fall

Apple plans to release a new operating system this fall—iOS11—that will include the ability to send money to peers via iMessage, Apple’s texting platform.

When sending money to a friend via iMessage, all you’ll have to do is enter an amount and select what pre-saved credit or debit card you’d like to use to send the funds. If you’re worried about safety, you can also choose to authenticate each transaction with Touch ID.

When you receive money via iMessage, the funds will go directly into your virtual Apple Pay cash card. From there, you can make purchases online or in store, transfer your cash to a bank account, or send money to other Apple Pay users.

Apple Pay’s iMessage feature will likely make the app a direct competitor to several other peer-to-peer payment services, including Venmo, Square Cash and Quickly, although there’s one noticeable feature that separates Apple Pay from the pack: Apple has differentiated its new payment method by keeping it incredibly simple. Unlike Venmo and Square Cash, users won’t be able to include notes with their transactions, which could be good or bad, depending on the level of detail you like for your records.

Stay tuned for this feature to roll out with iOS11 in the fall.