Ahead of WWDC 2023, Apple brings iOS 16.6 Public Beta update. Here’s what it offers

The technology giant has recently surprised users by releasing the first public beta for iOS 16.6. While iOS 16.5 introduced notable features like My Sports Tab and Siri screen recording, iOS 16.6 is expected to bring only minor updates, as the spotlight remains on the upcoming iOS 17 release.

Apple frequently rolls out updates to enhance user experience, addressing bugs, enhancing features, and refining performance. However, before these updates are made available to the general public, they are first released to a beta community for testing purposes. This beta testing phase allows for thorough evaluation of new features and improvements, ensuring they are stable and perform well.

Given that the initial public beta of iOS 16.6 has recently been announced, it is unlikely that the update will be released to the general public in the near future.

After being initially announced in the latter part of 2022, Apple’s feature faced delays before its recent release. The feature serves as a protective measure for individuals who are highly susceptible to cyberattacks perpetrated by malicious actors. Its purpose is to enable users to verify that they are indeed communicating with the intended recipient and not an unauthorized third party who may have intercepted the message or is surreptitiously monitoring the conversation.

When multiple users who have enabled this feature engage in a chat, Apple will issue an alert if there is a breach in the security of the cloud servers, which could potentially compromise the integrity of the conversation. By activating this feature, users have the ability to confirm not only their own identity but also the identity of the individual they are communicating with. This can be done by comparing a Contact Verification Code in person, through FaceTime, or using another secure application.