Apple is doubling the protection of user privacy by launching a new lockdown mode feature.
This new feature provides unprecedented security and protection from targeted spyware attacks. The company says a small number of high-risk individuals, including human rights activists, journalists, diplomats and dissidents, are facing the dangers of state-sponsored mercenary spyware and are committed to protecting them. rice field.
According to the company publicationLockdown mode will be available this fall on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.
Ivan Krstić, Head of Security Engineering and Architecture at Apple, said lockdown mode reflects the company’s “unwavering commitment” to protect users from the rarest and most sophisticated attacks.
“Although the majority of users will never be the victims of targeted cyberattacks, we will make a tireless effort to protect a small number of users. This is for these users. It involves continuing to specially design defenses and supporting researchers and organizations around the world who are doing very important work in exposing mercenary companies that create these digital attacks. “
Enabling lockdown mode enhances device protection and limits certain features. The first version of lockdown mode blocks most message attachments other than images, disables certain web technologies such as JIT JavaScript compilation, and blocks FaceTime calls from numbers that users haven’t contacted.
When a device is locked, it blocks all wired connections to your computer or accessories and prevents your device from entering mobile device management (MDM) while lockdown mode is on.
Apple said it will continue to add new protections. The company has launched a generous Apple Security Bounty program that rewards researchers and white hat hackers who can further enhance their modes, bypass lockdown modes, and improve their capabilities. Apple’s standard bounty will be doubled to qualify for lockdown mode, up to $ 2 million.
In addition to its bounty program, Apple will support organizations investigating and preventing targeted cyberattacks, including those created by private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. A $ 10,000 grant has also started. Apple specifically mentioned NSO Group, an Israeli software company behind the controversial Pegasus spyware.
NSO Group is believed to be behind hacking tools and software that circumvent the built-in security of Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Cisco products.Last November, US government Sanctions NSO Group and four other companies that develop and sell spyware.Same month, Apple Submission Proceedings targeting US users using Pegasus against NSO Group and its parent company, OSY Technologies
Little information has been revealed about the internal behavior of lockdown mode, but it’s still unclear how that will affect cryptocurrency applications on Apple devices. Some speculate that it can impair the behavior of various dApps and wallets, while others believe that it will bring the long-awaited layer of security to Apple’s blockchain-based services.
