Apple added Lockdown Mode to iPhones in 2022 to protect against spyware, especially state-sponsored hackers. Not automatically enabled, users can activate it…
Apple added Lockdown Mode to iPhones in 2022 to protect against spyware, especially from state-sponsored hackers. Recent stories of Indian lawmakers receiving Apple warnings about state-sponsored iPhone hacks brought this function back into focus.
Users who suspect spyware utilize Lockdown Mode as an emergency solution. It protects vulnerable people like activists and journalists. Users can enable it manually.
Follow these simple steps to enable iPhone Lockdown Mode:
Go to iPhone Settings.
See Privacy and Security underneath.
Search for Lockdown Mode at the bottom.
Tap to activate.
Lockdown Mode permits image sharing but not file attachments in Messages. It also prevents link previews.
Beyond file-related restrictions, Lockdown Mode blocks all communication with strangers. Unknown contacts won’t invite you to FaceTime. This mode does not support wired computer or accessory connections.
Apple introduced Lockdown Mode to prevent malicious breaches. The corporation learned from its Pegasus spyware experience and sued NSO Group, the spyware’s developer.
Conclusion
Lockdown Mode helps safeguard iPhone users from state-sponsored attacks and other advanced threats. Lockdown Mode makes it harder for attackers to access devices and data by blocking functions and preventing interactions with unknown people.
Lockdown Mode can reduce cyberattack risk, but it is not a panacea. Lockdown Mode should be enabled by security-conscious users, especially if they suspect state-sponsored spying.
Lockdown Mode has further benefits:
It can protect against zero-day attacks, which exploit software flaws the vendor is unaware of.
Attackers may find it harder to install malware.
It can prevent app and service data theft.
It can block fraudulent websites and apps from tracking users.
Lockdown Mode protects iPhone users from several risks. It’s crucial for activists, journalists, and government officials at risk of cyberattacks.