Apple has recently provided developers with the fourth betas of the upcoming iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 updates for the purpose of testing. These software releases arrive more than two weeks after the previous betas were made available.
To access the betas, registered developers can navigate to the Settings app, select Software Update, tap on “Beta Updates,” and enable the iOS 16 Developer Beta. It’s important to note that downloading and installing the beta requires an Apple ID linked to a developer account.
The primary focus of iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 is to establish the foundation for iMessage Contact Key Verification. This feature aims to enable Apple device users to verify the authenticity of their message recipients, safeguarding against interception or eavesdropping by malicious entities.
iMessage Contact Key Verification is specifically designed for individuals who face significant digital threats, such as journalists, human rights activists, and government officials. These high-risk users can utilize this feature to protect themselves from state-sponsored attackers and other malicious actors.
Apple has stated that iMessage Contact Key Verification will become available on iPhones and other Apple devices sometime in 2023. It is one of the last anticipated features to be introduced in the iOS 16 series. Although the first beta contained indications of the iMessage Contact Key, the feature was not fully enabled at that stage.