Apple has solely simply dropped iOS 16.5, however already there’s a public beta for iOS 16.6, the completed model of which can in all probability land within the subsequent month or so, based mostly on previous kind. This doesn’t look to be one of many largest iOS updates ever, however there’s one doubtlessly very helpful new function.

That function is iMessage Contact Key Verification, which Apple truly introduced final 12 months, however is barely now activating. For those who and the particular person or individuals you’re messaging each allow this function, then you definately’ll be alerted if Apple detects a possible intrusion – for instance, if the cloud servers your messages are carried on seem to have been breached.

Contact Verification Codes can be in contrast and verified in particular person or over a FaceTime name. So, all that is primarily a means of verifying that you just’re speaking to the particular person you consider you’re speaking to, and that nobody is eavesdropping on the dialog.

That is in all probability a stage of safety past what most individuals really want, particularly as iMessage is already end-to-end encrypted. Certainly, when Apple introduced the function, it positioned this as one thing geared toward individuals dealing with “extraordinary digital threats,” similar to journalists and authorities officers.

It’s a function that’s designed to cease “an exceptionally superior adversary, similar to a state-sponsored attacker,” so this isn’t one thing it is best to – in principle – have to keep away from garden-variety hackers. That stated, it’s one thing anybody can allow, so if you would like that additional peace of thoughts, the choice is now there.

Or it will likely be, anyway – whereas the function is now seen, it doesn’t look like purposeful but, based on BGR.

Few options to seek out

Presumably, then, Apple continues to be getting it arrange, however with it seen on this iOS 16.6 beta, it appears very seemingly that the iMessage Contact Key Verification function will totally launch within the completed model of iOS 16.6.

This appears to be the one function that has been discovered on this iOS 16.6 beta, and handily Apple hasn’t supplied any launch notes for the beta. So, there could also be extra options lurking in there, and there could also be extra options added in subsequent betas or the completed iOS 16.6 launch.

However as we’re not conscious of any purposeful adjustments on this present construct, there’s in all probability no have to obtain it. And whereas it’s going to positively be price grabbing the completed model, we’d not see many new options till iOS 17.