SIX iPhone security flaws have been found by Google researchers – and Apple still hasn't fixed one of them.

The holes in Apple's iOS software allow a hacker to take control of your phone by simply sending you a bugged message.

3 Six iPhone security vulnerabilities let hackers access your phone simply by sending you a malware-ridden iMessage. Apple has now fixed five of them Credit: Getty - Contributor

The find flies in the face of recent suggestions by Apple that it's the company to turn to if you care about privacy and security.

Research was carried out by a team at Project Zero, Google's security research group that tracks down so-called "zero day" vulnerabilities.

These bugs are named as such because whoever's in charge of the software has "zero days" to find a solution.

They're a valuable tool for hackers and are constantly being hoarded by cyber criminals and intelligence agencies, while others attempt to find and fix them.

3 To protect yourself, simply update to the latest version of iOS Credit: Getty - Contributor

Of the six flaws found by the team, Apple has now patched five. To protect yourself, simply update to the latest version of iOS.

Four of the six – including the one not yet patched by Apple – allow a hacker to break into your phone by sending you an iMessage filled with malicious code.

All you need to do is open the message and the cyber crook has remote access to your iPhone.

From here, they can copy files like your photos, messages and possibly your bank details – or even crash your phone, wiping everything on it.

Other flaws found by Google allowed hackers to break into your iPad or Mac computer using similar methods.

Details of the five flaws now patched by Apple have been published online by Project Zero.

How to update your iPhone Here's what you need to do... The easiest way to update your iPhone is wirelessly – just follow these simple steps: Plug your iPhone into a power socket, and connect to a Wi-Fi network

Tap Settings > General > Software Update

Tap 'Download and Install'

Tap 'Install' to update immediately, or tap 'Later' and choose 'Install Tonight' to update while your phone is plugged in overnight

You may have to enter your passcode If you'd rather do a manual update using a wired connection, that's easy enough too. First, install the latest version of iTunes on your computer

Then connect your device to your computer using the supplied USB cable

Open iTunes and select your device

Click 'Summary', and then click 'Check for Update'

Click 'Download and Update'

You may be asked to enter your passcode

The sixth vulnerability has been kept a secret in order to stop hackers from using it.

Apple urged users to update their iPhones to iOS 12.4, the latest version of its software, to fix the five patched bugs.

Apple has previously stated that keeping your software up to date is "one of the most important things you can do to maintain your Apple product's security."

As for the sixth flaw, The Sun understands that Apple is currently investigating a fix. There's no word yet on when that might become available.

3 The vulnerabilities were found by a cuber security research team at Google Credit: Getty - Contributor

Apple has made a point over the past 18 months to tout its commitment to user security, with boss Tim Cook declaring in January that privacy is a "fundamental human right".

It has become a key part of Apple's advertising campaigns as tech titans like Facebook and Google find themselves under intense scrutiny for their lapse attitude to user data.

At this year's CES conference, where most of the world's biggest tech firms were in attendance, Apple took a sly dig at its rivals with a huge billboard.

It read: "What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone."

For the most part, Apple has stuck to its guns, but in recent months the firm has been hit by a number of privacy slip ups.

Last week, the firm scrambled to fix a flaw that made it possible to spy on iPhone owners using the Apple Watch's Walkie Talkie app.

Earlier this month, a flaw found by researchers let anyone turn your Apple Mac webcam on remotely and spy on you using the Zoom video chat app.

Zoom eventually fixed the vulnerability with an emergency patch after initially dismissing it as "low risk".

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In other iPhone news, we recently revealed how to stop pranksters sending texts from your phone through its lock screen.

A spy firm recently warned of a new £60 hacking tool that can unlock any iPhone or iPad in seconds.

We've put together a list of iPhone tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your mobile.

Got any good iPhone tips? Let us know in the comments!

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