Apple Announces New Lockdown Mode on iOS 16 With 'Extreme' Level of Security

A new Lockdown Mode is coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac with Apple's newest operating system. The optional security feature is designed to protect a small group of users who may be at risk of highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies.

When the software updates are released later this year, Lockdown Mode will be available to all users, and will be enabled in the third version of the operating system. It seems that the feature can be enabled by any user, even if they are targets of cyberattacks.

Lockdown Mode can be found in the Privacy & Security section of the settings app on both the iPad and the Mac.

Lockdown Mode gives an "extreme" level of security by limiting or disabling the functions of features, apps, and websites, according to Apple. Lockdown Mode will have protections.

• In the Messages app, most message attachment types other than images are blocked, and some features like link previews are unavailable.
• Incoming FaceTime calls from people you have not previously called are blocked. Incoming invitations for other Apple services from people you have not previously invited are also blocked.
• Some complex web technologies and browsing features, including just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation, are disabled unless the user excludes a trusted site from Lockdown Mode. This protection applies to Safari and all other web browsers using WebKit across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
• Shared albums will be removed from the Photos app, and new shared album invitations will be blocked.
• When a device is locked, wired connections with other devices/accessories are blocked.
• Configuration profiles cannot be installed, and the device cannot enroll into mobile device management (MDM), while Lockdown Mode is turned on.

New protections will be added to Lockdown Mode over time. Apple has added a new category to its Security Bounty program to reward researchers who find Lockdown Mode is bypassed and help improve its protections, with bounties to be doubled for finding Lockdown Mode, up to a maximum of $2 million.

Ivan Krsti, Apple's head of security engineering, said that Lockdown Mode is a "groundbreaking capability that reflects our steadfast commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks." The vast majority of users won't be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, but we will work hard to protect the small number of users who are.

The Ford Foundation's Dignity and Justice Fund will receive a $10 million grant from Apple. Apple will donate any damages it is awarded from its lawsuit against NSO Group.

Apple began notifying users who may have been targeted by state-sponsored attackers last year.

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