As part of its ongoing effort to combat government-sponsored mercenary spyware, Apple will offer a new “Lock Mode” in iOS 16 and macOS Ventura. The average person will never use this arrangement, but it should provide enhanced protection for common targets of world governments, such as journalists and dissidents. Looks like the Pegasus spyware really pushed Apple over the edge. Developed by Israel’s NSO, Pegasus exploits zero-click vulnerabilities to hack into Apple devices. It is licensed to many foreign powers, including the United States and parts of the EU. That said, Pegasus is best known for its connection to the Saudi government. Spyware is regularly found on the phones of journalists and human rights activists in Saudi Arabia, including those imprisoned or murdered. (For what it’s worth, the Saudi government also hit Jeff Bezos with Pegasus or similar spyware in 2018.) Because spyware mercenaries like Pegasus exploit zero-click vulnerabilities (discovered by reverse engineering Apple products), the Lockdown feature should close these vulnerabilities. This means reduced functionality, especially when it comes to image or file previews, FaceTime calls, and JavaScript. “Lockdown mode is an extreme, optional protection that should only be used if you believe you may be personally targeted by a highly sophisticated cyberattack. Most people are never the target of this kind of attack.” Apple also says it’s throwing money into the Dignity and Justice Fund, which will attempt to combat mercenary spyware through education, coordination with advocacy groups and the development of software forensics tools. But because mercenary spyware is such a powerful diplomatic and economic tool, Lockdown Mode appears to be the long-term solution for the parties at risk. Lockdown Mode debuts with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura later this year. According to Apple, the capabilities of Lockdown Mode will be increased to deal with the threat of a new spyware. Source: Apple
