The iOS Lockdown Mode was created to protect iPhone users from malicious attacks
The original intention of the Lockdown was to prevent an iPhone from getting infected by malware after an attack. But according to David Huerta, senior digital security trainer at Freedom of the Press Foundation, Apple made the feature so aggressive that it also prevented the FBI, with all of its tools, from breaking into Natanson’s phone.
To turn on Lockdown Mode, go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Scroll down and press on “Lockdown Mode.” Follow the instructions on the screen. In Lockdown Mode:
- Apps, websites and features are limited for security reason.
- Message attachments are blocked.
- Incoming FaceTime calls from people you never called before are blocked. SharePlay and Live Photos are disabled.
- Some web browsing features are blocked.
- Location is excluded when sharing photos and Shared Albums are removed from the Photos app.
- While your iPhone is Locked Down, wired connections with another device or accessory is blocked.
- You cannot automatically join non-secure Wi-Fi networks and 2G/3G cellular connectivity is blocked.
- Incoming invitations for Apple Services from people you have not previously invited are blocked.
- Configuration profiles, like the ones for school or work cannot be installed.
Apple says that most iPhone users are never targeted to the point they need Lockdown Mode
If you think that your phone might be under attack often, you might want to know how to turn on Lockdown Mode and how it affects your iPhone. Lockdown Mode locks down the ways that malware can get into your phone. Besides blocking the FBI from getting into Hannah Natanson’s phone, back in 2022 Lockdown Mode also stopped a human rights defender’s iPhone from getting broken into by hackers.
Apple, as noted, said that Lockdown Mode offers “extreme protection” for the very small number of individuals who, “because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats.” To keep you from needlessly worrying, Apple points out that “Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.”
If you have enabled Lockdown Mode, you can disable it by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode (scrolling down to the very bottom) > Turn off Lockdown Mode.
Android’s Advanced Protection
On Chrome, HTTPS is used on all websites encrypting the data between your computer and website. The JavaScript JIT (Just-In-Time) Optimizer in your browser is disabled preventing hackers from tricking the browser into running malicious code. Advanced Protection disables 2G radio hardware preventing the Android phone from being tricked by a fake 2G Stingray signal.
Between Lockdown Mode and Android Advanced Protection, smartphones owners can give their phones a degree of protection from hackers and the FBI.
