Apple Introduces a New Extreme Security Feature: Lockdown Mode

Earlier this week, Apple announced a new, more stringent feature for its products- Lockdown Mode- known for its most security and privacy-focused devices on the market. This new initiative launched by Apple is designed to help protect a handful of users who face serious, targeted threats to their digital security. Lockdown Mode will be available on iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and iPadOS 16 this fall. The new security feature is for public figure users such as government officials- who may be the targets of hacking attacks like Pegasus spyware, which oppressive governments allegedly used to attack politicians, lawyers, journalists, and human rights activists.

 

                                             Source- Apple Newsroom

Last November, Apple also announced a $10 million grant to bolster the privacy-focused effort to support civil society organizations that conduct mercenary spyware threat research exposing threats. In addition, the tech giant also announced a new category within the Apple Security Bounty Program to reward individuals who find ways to bypass Lockdown Mode to further help improve its protection. With Lockdown Mode, Apple doubled bounties up to $2,000,000 for finding security holes, which is said to be the highest bounty prize money in the industry.

Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture, calls the new security initiative ‘groundbreaking.’ “While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are. That includes continuing to design defenses specifically for these users, as well as supporting researchers and organizations around the world doing critically important work in exposing mercenary companies that create these digital attacks,” said Krstić in an official statement.

 

Also, read Data Privacy Tips You’d Wish You Knew.

What does the ‘Lockdown Mode’ do?

The newly announced ‘Lockdown Mode’ offers an optional but extreme security level for the few users who may be potential targets of sophisticated digital threats. Enabling Lockdown Mode hardens device defenses and strictly limits specific processes, limiting the ways mercenary spyware could exploit your apple devices.

Lockdown Mode Features

When launched, the Lockdown Mode feature will offer the following protections:

Messages: Other than images, most message attachments are blocked. Features like link previews are disabled.

Apple Services: FaceTime calls, incoming invitations, and service requests are blocked if the user has not called or sent a request to the initiator.

Web browsing: Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation is disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode.

Wired connections with an accessory or a computer are blocked when the user’s iPhone is locked.

Management: While Lockdown Mode is turned on, Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll in mobile device management (MDM). 

                                                 Source- Apple Newsroom

Apple’s effort to strengthen its device security comes at a time when targeted cyberattacks are looming over the tech industry worldwide. Last year, Apple sent out a free software update that addressed the Pegasus spyware and sued the NSO group responsible for Pegasus to stop developing or selling additional hacking tools. Apple also sent out threat notifications to potential victims of these hacking tools. Since November 2021, the company has notified people in over 150 countries, even though the number of people targeted via these threats was relatively small.

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