Apple recently unveiled a Lockdown Mode for iOS 16 that enables people with high cyberattack risks to stay in contact while lowering their risk.
Apple is offering up to $2,000,000 USD in prizes for hackers who can exploit Lockdown mode and bypass it, claiming that it is the highest maximum bounty payout in the industry. “Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market,” Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture, stated. “Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks.”
This feature is still available to the typical daily user, but it might not be required. The feature targets people who are more likely to be attacked, including influential people, world leaders, and celebrities.
Links and attachments in SMS messages are blocked, the majority of javascript is blocked online, incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers are blocked, wired connections can only be used after the phone has been unlocked, and configuration profiles and device management cannot be installed or enrolled when the feature is enabled.
Lockdown Mode will be available in iOS 16, coming this fall.
