Apple has introduced a new feature for its iPhones called Lockdown. The new mode is designed protect users against state-sponsored hacking activities.
According to CNBC, Lockdown Mode turns off several features on the iPhone in order to make it less vulnerable to spyware by significantly reducing the number of features that attackers can access and potentially hack.
The new mode disables preview features in apps like iMessage and limits JavaScript on the Safari browser. It also prevents new configuration modes from being installed and blocks wired connections, thereby preventing the device’s data from being copied or cloned. It also shuts down service requests such as FaceTime.
“Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market. Lockdown Mode is a ground-breaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture.
Turning on Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura further hardens device defenses and strictly limits certain functionalities, sharply reducing the attack surface that potentially could be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware.
“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.”
According to Apple, Lockdown Mode offers an extreme, optional level of security for the very few users who, because of who they are or what they do, may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from NSO Group and other private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.
The technology behemoth has announced that it $2 million to researchers who find a security flaw in its Lockdown Mode.
