iOS 26.4.2 Patches Flaw That Let FBI Extract Deleted Signal Messages

Wednesday April 22, 2026 12:01 pm PDT by Juli Clover

The iOS 26.4.2, iPadOS 26.4.2, iOS 18.7.8, and iPadOS 18.7.8 updates that Apple released today address a security vulnerability that the FBI recently used to extract Signal message previews from an iPhone even after the app was deleted.

A flaw with notification services allowed notifications that were supposed to be deleted to be retained on an iPhone or iPad. Apple says it fixed the logging issue with improved data redaction.

Apple became aware of the vulnerability after recent court testimony revealed that the FBI was able to access the internal notification database on an iPhone involved in a case, providing law enforcement with access to message previews. The iPhone in question was set to display the content of Signal messages on the Lock Screen, and with that feature enabled, the iPhone stores message content.

The defendant in the case had deleted the Signal app and had Signal messages set to disappear, but the iPhone kept the messages in its database long enough for the FBI to access them.

Apple users running iOS 26, iPadOS 26, iOS 18, or iPadOS 18 should update to the latest versions to avoid being impacted by the security flaw.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Related Roundups: iOS 26, iPadOS 26

Tags: FBI, Signal

Related Forum: iOS 26

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Top Rated Comments

Nermal

26 weeks ago

Ahh yes, once again Apple protecting criminals.

And everyone else.

Score: 70 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Non-Euclidean

26 weeks ago

Updating to spite FBI even though I don't use Signal.

Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)

mikes63737

26 weeks ago

I hope this incident prompts Apple to take a serious look at other gaps in their privacy model. There are so many cases where they over promise and under deliver. Intent doesn't matter if there are gaping holes like this one.

Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Acidsplat

26 weeks ago

People who don't commit crime, don't need protection from FBI or from anyone.

Because the FBI has famously never gone after innocent people. :rolleyes:

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

coolfactor

26 weeks ago

Ahh yes, once again Apple protecting criminals.

That's a puzzling way to view this. Apple promises that their platform is secure. iPhone was just recently certified for US government (?) usage, and yet here was an oversight in the design that exposed potentially private data.

Yes, fixing this may protect criminals, but fixing it aligns the platform with their promise, which benefits all users.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)