Currently in beta and expected to ship in the fall, Apple’s new Lockdown Mode removes certain features and functionalities from iPhones, iPads, and other macOS-powered devices in order to neutralize zero-click exploits. The mode blocks incoming invitations and service requests, including FaceTime calls, and it disables complex web technologies like just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compilation. It also blocks the installation of configuration profiles and disables enrollment into mobile device management (MDM) systems. “Apple has a history of downplaying the security risks on their devices, and with this move, they acknowledge that they are a target and vulnerable as any other,” said Avast Security Evangelist Luis Corrons. “New options to secure devices are always welcome, and this ‘hardening mode’ approach has been used in the security industry for years.” The new Lockdown Mode was designed to protect journalists, political activists, and dissidents targeted by nation-state spyware. For more on this story, see SecurityWeek.
