SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc will release a patch for the Safari web browser on its iPhones, iPads and Macs within days, it said on Jan 4, after major chipmakers disclosed flaws that leave nearly every modern computing device vulnerable to hackers. 

Browser makers Google, Microsoft Corp and Mozilla Corp’s Firefox all confirmed to Reuters that the patches they currently have in place do not protect iOS users. With Safari and virtually all other popular browsers not patched, hundreds of millions of iPhone and iPad users may have no secure means of browsing the web until Apple issues its patch.