July 10, 2022: Apple might introduce a lockdown option for iPhones, iPads and Macs to protect its devices from spyware released by state-sponsored hackers. Why and the background ...keep reading to know more!
Last Wednesday, one of the world's most valuable tech companies, Apple announced that the company is planning to launch a lockdown option for iPhones, iPads and Mac computers to protect against state-sponsored hackers and commercial spyware. However, enabling such an option will also make the devices less useful.
A test version of the lockdown mode will initially be offered by the company to let the security researchers identify bugs on the Apple devices. Most of its releases are rolled out in late September by Apple.
Only a few countries can afford to harbour resources which can develop indigenous mobile phones with hacking tools, however some companies, like NSO group from Israel, have been manufacturing phone hacking software for government agencies for several years.
Last year, Apple even filed a federal lawsuit against NSO for breaking into Apple products through its structured hacking system. It accused the group of their shaken moral code in the 21st century tech-world, even amidst the highly sophisticated cyber surveillance machinery spread all across the world. However, NSO has denied any such accusation and said that they used similar features only to track terrorists and child abusers.
Unlike most of the security features that Apple introduces, the new lockdown mode will only work as an emergency option that will be required by a select number of users, especially those who are targeted by spyware. However, activating such an option would limit or disable many other popular applications running on the phone. This may include important features like sending attachments, links to text, FaceTime calls from new numbers, web browsing, etc.
The affected groups of people will include human rights activists, journalists, etc. Such users will have the option of activating and deactivating the lockdown mode at their own will.
Mobile phone spyware targets text messages, emails and photos and secretly controls the smartphone’s microphones and cameras. Apple has also announced their upcoming plan of introducing a $10 million grant to help prevent large-scale hacking attacks.