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iOS 11.1 Public Beta 3 Patches The KRACK Wi-Fi Issue For Apple iOS Devices - Available Now

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Get KRAK-in if want the most secure version of iOS 11 available.

Anthony Karcz

By this time next week, there's only going to be one thing on everyone's minds. That's right, iOS 11.1 Public Beta 4!

What? Is there something else Apple-related happening next week? An eagerly awaited preorder or something? Oh yes, that's right, the iPhone X launch is right around the corner.

For the developers in Cupertino, that means time is short to put the finishing touches on iOS 11.1. Rumor is that Apple wants the first big point release of iOS 11 to drop right before or as the iPhone X ships on November 3. What that means for public beta testers is that the window between new beta releases will be increasingly shorter, with at least two more dropping after this one.

But you didn't come here to find out about what might be coming, you came to find out about today's iOS 11.1 Public Beta release.

The biggest actual "feature" in this release is a patch for the recently revealed and woefully reviled KRACK Wi-Fi exploit. Long story short, it gives hackers access to your network traffic even on secure networks, rendering said network security moot. If you're not on the beta, you'll need to use a VPN on your iPhone until iOS 11.1 is officially released. If you are on the beta, you can rest a bit easier.

Other than that, Public Beta 3 doesn't bring much else with it other than bug fixes. Last week's slews of emojis were probably the highest profile feature we'll see out of 11.1 (unless Apple Pay Cash sneaks in). So while it might not be as exciting as Public Beta 2, this public beta release is more stable and has less bugs than its predecessors. Things like battery life will also be optimized (so those of you that have been complaining that their iPhones aren't lasting as long, take heart).

So how do you download the latest iOS 11.1 Public Beta?

Getting Started

If you deleted your beta profile after iOS 11 was released, or if you've never participated in an Apple beta, you'll need to get one.

To sign up, head over to https://beta.apple.com/ and use your Apple ID to create a beta account (if you don’t already have one from last year's iOS 10 program). You can follow my installation gallery for details (it's for the initial iOS 11 Public Beta, but the same steps still apply).

Even though iOS 11 is out, iOS 11.1 is beta software and Apple makes it extremely clear in the agreement you scroll past on the way to the Agree button that it can do anything up to and including bricking your device and corrupting your data.

Back It Up

Before you download the beta client, take advantage of the Archive tool for iOS backups in iTunes. Plug in your phone and click the Back Up Now button. That way, you'll have one last stable backup that won’t get overwritten.

One thing that Apple won't tell you is that, if you want to save all your Health data, you'll need to encrypt the backup when given the choice. So make sure you encrypt it!

You'll be safe from KRAK hacks, but beware bugs!

Image: Apple

Restoring Your Backup

If everything does go wrong and you end up with an unresponsive slab of glass, metal, and silicon, you'll need your backup to get back on track. Turn off your iPhone, hold down the Home button and plug it in to your computer. If you have an iPhone 7 or 8, you'll need to press and hold the Lock/Wake button and then the Volume Down button simultaneously (since the Home button is virtual).  When the Connect to iTunes screen displays, head over to iTunes and follow the steps to restore your archived backup.

Remember, any time you want, you can hop off the beta release train by deleting your beta profile. But if you do it before an iOS 11 update, you'll be stuck with your current software unless you restore from a backup. Keep that in mind before installing beta software on your main iDevice.

Wondering what you need to watch out for when beta testing? Read my "Three Things" guide.

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