Apple on Wednesday announced it plans to introduce an enhanced security setting called Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura to guard high- threat users against” highly targeted cyberattacks.”
The” extreme, optional protection” feature, now available for preview in beta versions of its upcoming software, is designed to counter a surge in threats posed by private companies developing state- sponsored surveillanceware similar as Pegasus, DevilsTongue, Predator, and Hermit.
Lockdown Mode, when enabled,” hardens device defenses and rigorously limits certain functionalities, sharply reducing the attack surface that potentially could be exploited by largely targeted greedy spyware,” Apple said in a statement.
This includes blocking most communication attachment types other than images and disabling link previews in Messages; rendering inoperative just- by- time(JIT) JavaScript compendium; removing support for shared albums in Photos; and precluding incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers.
Other restrictions cut off wired connections with a computer or accessory when an iPhone is locked and, most importantly, prohibit configuration profiles — a feature that is been abused to sideload apps bypassing the App Store — from being installed.
The tech giant also noted that it plans to incorporate fresh countermeasures to Lockdown Mode over time, while simultaneously inviting feedback from the security exploration community to identify” qualifying findings” that will be eligible for over to$ 2 million in bug bounties.
It’s worth noting that the feature won’t be switched on by default, but can be accessed by heading to Settings> Privacy & Security> Lockdown Mode.
The announcement arrives a month after Apple debuted a new Rapid Security Response feature in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura that aims to deploy security fixes without the need for a full operating system version update.
Google and Meta offer similar software features known as Advanced Account Protection and Facebook Protect that are meant to secure the accounts of individualities who are at an” elevated threat of targeted online attacks” from takeover attempts.
But it will not be surprising if Google follows suit with a analogous feature on Android.
