Apple has announced Lockdown Mode, an extreme defense against targeted cyberattacks designed to protect politicians, activists, and other public figures from targeted harassment via smartphones.
Lockdown mode will allow you to configure the device in such a way as to protect the owner from hackers, viruses and bots as much as possible. Among the announced features:
- Disable preview of images and links in messages,
- Block incoming FaceTime calls from new/unknown users,
- Block invitations to any mobile services (including even shared photo albums) from users with whom there was no contact before,
- Blocking wired connections with any device if the phone is locked,
- Disable JavaScript JIT compilation etc.
The new functionality comes as a series of Apple devices owned by activists, politicians and journalists have been infected with malicious spyware that allows operators to extract messages, photos and emails, record calls and secretly activate microphones and cameras.
The company is now launching an extreme protection mode that it claims can protect devices from all known spyware currently on the market.
"Lockdown Mode is an innovative feature that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the most rare and sophisticated attacks," Ivan Krstic, Apple's chief security officer, said of the feature's launch.
Lockdown mode is coming this fall to all devices running iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura. The new mode is expected to be available on all Apple devices in the future.
Author:
Ekaterina Alipova
Source: RB
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
