Apple previews Lockdown Mode (apple.com)

Article summary

Apple is introducing Lockdown Mode, a new security feature that provides extreme protection for users who may be at risk of highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. This feature will be available in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura and will include protections such as blocking most message attachment types and disabling certain complex web technologies. Apple is also providing a $10 million grant to support civil society organizations that conduct mercenary spyware threat research and advocacy. The grant will be made to the Dignity and Justice Fund, which will support organizations that investigate, expose, and prevent highly targeted cyberattacks.

Main themes

• Lockdown Mode
• security features
• user experience
• app permissions
• data usage
• cyberattacks
• mercenary spyware
• Apple's motivations
• Android vs iOS security
• transparency and control
• security trade-offs

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that the features of Lockdown Mode should be enabled by default for all users, as they provide important security protections.
• Others argue that disabling JavaScript and other features would degrade the user experience and should not be enabled by default.
• There is a desire for a more nuanced approach to security, such as a per-application firewall, that would allow users to control which apps have access to the internet and other resources.
• Some commenters are skeptical of Apple's motivations, seeing Lockdown Mode as a way to push users towards the App Store and away from web apps.
• The lack of a built-in firewall feature on iOS is seen as a limitation, with some commenters using third-party apps like Little Snitch on macOS to control network traffic.
• The effectiveness of Android's soft VPN API in blocking network traffic for certain apps is questioned, with some arguing that system apps can bypass these restrictions.
• There is a need for more transparency and control over app permissions and data usage, with some commenters using features like App Privacy Report to monitor app activity.
• The trade-off between security and user experience is a recurring theme, with some commenters arguing that security features should not come at the cost of usability.