GoKawiiliPhone security has been in the news this month as Apple patches known exploits. As promised, the company has alerted customers using iPhones on older software to update this week. Meanwhile, Apple states on-the-record that its Lockdown Mode has proven effective against hack attempts so far.
iPhones in Lockdown Mode have never been hacked
In 2022, Apple introduced Lockdown Mode on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Apple calls Lockdown Mode a way to protect against “extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks.”
Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature. When Lockdown Mode is enabled, your device won’t function like it typically does. To reduce the attack surface that potentially could be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware, certain apps, websites, and features are strictly limited for security and some experiences might not be available at all.
You can see all the ways Lockdown Mode changes how your iPhone, iPad, and Mac work here. Three of the most drastic changes include these:
Messages: Most message attachment types are blocked, other than certain images, video, and audio. Some features, such as links and link previews, are unavailable.
Most message attachment types are blocked, other than certain images, video, and audio. Some features, such as links and link previews, are unavailable. Web browsing: Certain complex web technologies are blocked, which might cause some websites to load more slowly or not operate correctly. In addition, web fonts might not be displayed, and images might be replaced with a missing image icon.
Certain complex web technologies are blocked, which might cause some websites to load more slowly or not operate correctly. In addition, web fonts might not be displayed, and images might be replaced with a missing image icon. Wireless connectivity: Your device won’t automatically join non-secure Wi-Fi networks and will disconnect from a non-secure Wi-Fi network when you turn on Lockdown Mode. 2G and 3G cellular support is turned off for iPhone and iPad.
Lockdown Mode is a dramatic change to how the system works, but it’s also an effective tool for users who may be at greater risk of being targeted by hackers with spyware.
Apple tells TechCrunch that to date, no known instance of hacking a device with Lockdown Mode has occurred:
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