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Apple Provides ‘Lockdown Mode’ to Thwart .Gov Mercenary Spyware and adware

By Ryan Naraine on July 06, 2022

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Confronted with a surge in state-sponsored mercenary spyware and adware assaults focusing on its flagship iOS platform, Apple plans so as to add a brand new ‘Lockdown Mode’ that considerably reduces assault floor and provides technical roadblocks to restrict refined software program exploits.

The Cupertino, Calif. tech big stated the Lockdown Mode functionality might be obtainable on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura as “an excessive, non-obligatory safety for the very small variety of customers” who’re focused by governments for surveillance.

“Turning on Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura additional hardens system defenses and strictly limits sure functionalities, sharply decreasing the assault floor that probably could possibly be exploited by extremely focused mercenary spyware and adware,” Apple stated in a observe printed Wednesday.

READ: Google: NSO Zero-Click on ‘Most Technically Subtle Exploit Ever Seen’

At launch, Apple stated the brand new Lockdown Mode will embrace the next protections: 

• Messages: Most message attachment sorts aside from photos are blocked. Some options, like hyperlink previews, are disabled.

• Net searching: Sure advanced internet applied sciences, like just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation, are disabled except the consumer excludes a trusted website from Lockdown Mode.

• Apple providers: Incoming invites and repair requests, together with FaceTime calls, are blocked if the consumer has not beforehand despatched the initiator a name or request.

• Wired connections with a pc or accent are blocked when iPhone is locked.

• Configuration profiles can’t be put in, and the system can’t enroll into cell system administration (MDM), whereas Lockdown Mode is turned on.

“Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking functionality that displays our unwavering dedication to defending customers from even the rarest, most refined assaults,” stated Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Safety Engineering and Structure. “Whereas the overwhelming majority of customers won’t ever be the victims of extremely focused cyberattacks, we are going to work tirelessly to guard the small variety of customers who’re,” Krstić added.

[ READ: Apple Slaps Lawsuit on NSO Group Over Pegasus iOS Exploitation ]

Apple additionally introduced the creation of a brand new class inside its bug bounty program to reward researchers who discover Lockdown Mode bypasses and assist enhance its protections. Bounties are doubled for qualifying findings in Lockdown Mode, as much as a most of $2,000,000, the very best most bounty payout within the trade, the corporate stated.

The system maker can be planning to supply a $10 million grant to assist organizations that examine, expose, and forestall extremely focused cyberattacks, together with these created by personal firms creating state-sponsored mercenary spyware and adware. 

Apple’s newest bulletins are in response to a wave of zero-day assaults hitting iOS and macOS customers with refined exploits that plant high-end surveillance instruments. The corporate has filed a lawsuit towards infamous Israeli spyware and adware maker NSO Group and added a brand new BlastDoor’ sandbox to guard its platform from zero-click exploits.

Associated: Google: NSO  Zero-Click on ‘Most Technically Subtle Exploit Ever Seen’

Associated: Secretive Israeli Exploit Firm Behind Wave of Zero-Day Exploits 

Associated: Apple Slaps Lawsuit on NSO Group Over Pegasus iOS Exploitation

Associated: Citizen Lab Exposes Cytrox as Vendor Behind ‘Predator’ iPhone Spyware and adware

Associated: New iOS Zero-Click on Exploit Defeats Apple ‘BlastDoor’ Sandbox

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