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Apple announced new features for iPhone named Lockdown Mode. This feature is designed to protect important users such as politicians and activists from attacks spyware.
If enabled, Lockdown Mode will turn off some features on the iPhone to protect it from spyware attacks by reducing the number of features that can be accessed and hacked by hackers.
Some of the disabled features include previewing messages in iMessage, restricting JavaScript in Safari, preventing the installation of new configuration profiles, blocking FaceTime call requests from unknown sources, and blocking wired connections so data on iPhone can’t be copied.
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The announcement of this new feature comes after reports of government-backed hackers successfully breaking into iPhones with ‘zero-clicks’ attacks. An attack like this can penetrate an iPhone even if the victim doesn’t click on any link, for example an incoming attack uses a GIF to exploit an iMessage.
Most hackers and malware usually operate to seek financial gain, and target victims to be willing to provide sensitive information such as passwords so that hackers can break into their social media accounts or bank accounts.
In contrast to hackers who are backed by the state. They use sophisticated and expensive tools that are sold directly to law enforcement agencies or governments, and are used to break into iPhone using undiscovered security vulnerabilities.
From there, hackers can spy on victims by eavesdropping on conversations via microphones, accessing cameras, tracking locations, and stealing browsing history and phone calls. Usually the people targeted by hackers and spyware like this are important figures, including activists, journalists, politicians, and political dissidents.
“While the vast majority of users will not be victims of a truly targeted cyberattack, we will work as hard as possible to protect the minority of users who are at risk of becoming victims,” said Ivan Krstić, Apple’s Head of Security Engineering and Architecture. (7/7/2022).
Currently the spyware that is in the limelight is Pegasus, which was developed by the Israeli company NSO Group. Apple even sued the NSO Group last year because it was considered dangerous and interfered with its business.
To strengthen the defensive fortress iPhoneApple will issue a bug bounty of USD 2 million to researchers who can find security holes in Lockdown Mode.
Lockdown Mode will not be on by default and will be enabled in iPhone settings with a single tap. This feature will also be available on iPad and Mac. This feature is already available for testing in iOS 16 beta 3 and will be released next fall.
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