Apple Inc. Introducing security tools for iPhone, iPad and Mac devices designed to prevent targeted cyber attacks on high profile users such as activists, journalists and government officials.The optional feature, called Lockdown mode, will offer “extreme” protection for “a small number of users who face large and targeted attacks,” Apple said Wednesday in a statement. This tool greatly reduces the number of physical and digital ways for attackers to hack the user’s device. Apple said this feature was intended primarily to try to fight the attacks of the “spyware” sold by NSO Group and other companies, especially for groups sponsored by the state.
Over the past few years, the state sponsored by the state has hacked a high profile user by gaining long distance access to data on their iPhone.Last year, Bloomberg News reported that a number of US foreign department employees were hacked and told by Apple. In November, Apple sued NSO Group, said that Israeli-based companies developed tools such as Pegasus Spyware to abuse and endanger Apple users.Apple said a small number of users had been targeted by such attacks in 150 countries. The iPhone maker recently put features that tell users who are the subject of cyber attacks sponsored by the country. The notification system will be updated to tell those people about new locking modes, Apple said.
The locking mode will affect the message application, facetime, online apple service, configuration profile, web safari browser and cable connection.With existing tools, the message application will block attachments other than images and deactivate preview links. Those are the two general mechanisms used by hackers to infiltrate the device from a distance. Web browsers, other channels that are often for hackers, will also be very limited, with limits on certain fonts, web language and features that involve reading PDFs and viewing content.
In Facetime, users will not be able to receive calls from someone they had not yet called in the previous 30 days.Locking mode can be turned on using a switch at the bottom of the privacy menu in the application settings on the Apple device. During the settings, the user will be warned that allows the device to mean the device “will not function as usual” and that “applications, websites, and features will be very limited for security and some experiences will not be available at all,” according to the screenshots of the features that are shared By Apple.
Google Alphabet Inc. Offering similar tools for high profile users, warning them when they are targeted by hackers who are sponsored by the state and promote strong authentication techniques as defensive measures.Apple plans to release the locking mode as part of iOS 16, iPados 16 and MacOS Ventura operating system that will come in the next few months. This will also be tested this week as part of the third beta for developers. The company did not say when the feature version might arrive at other Apple operating systems, including Watchos for Apple Watch, but said planning to add new protection in the future.
Other online services will also get changes in locking mode, but Apple does not determine the right difference. Features such as CarPlay which in some cases require cable connections will not work unless the user enters their password code, while the new configuration profile and the registration of the device into the company’s management software will also not function in this mode.Apple also said that he would pay for $ 2 million security prize researchers if they found a way to cut the locking mode and help improve their protection. The company also provides $ 10 million grants for dignity and justice funds, established and suggested by the Ford Foundation, to support the investigation and prevention of very targeted cyber attacks.