Apple is preparing a new tool that will help users avoid ‘hacking’ with ‘spyware’-type programs, aimed at extracting information, such as Pegasus . The feature is called ‘ Lockdown Mode ‘ (isolation mode, in Spanish) and is expected to be available on the company’s iPhone, iPad and Mac in the early fall of this year, when the new operating systems arrive.
“Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market. Isolation Mode is an innovative feature that reflects our strong commitment to protecting users from the rarest and most sophisticated attacks,” Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture, said in a statement.
Isolation mode offers an optional extreme level of security for the few users who, due to their status or work, may be victims of attacks with the most sophisticated digital threats. Regarding the specific functionalities that it will make available to users who activate the tool, Apple points out that, in SMS, most types of attachments that are not images are blocked.
Browsing through certain web pages is also disabled, invitations from strangers to use Apple’s signature services (such as the FaceTime video call platform) are disabled and the connection between the mobile device and a computer via cable is closed in case the iPhone is locked. Finally, the ability to “install configuration profiles and the device cannot access mobile device management” is disabled.
Apple states that the mode will continue to receive new functionality in the future. He also points out that the feature is designed to serve as an extra layer of protection for those users who, due to their profession, are more susceptible than the rest to suffering a ‘ hack ‘ with ‘spyware’ like Pegasus . Precisely, in the statement, the company points directly against NSO Group the Israeli company behind the development and marketing of the famous code.
“I applaud Apple’s initiative to create this very important scholarship, which will send a powerful message and help both independent researchers and entities to hold vendors of mercenary spyware accountable for the harm they are causing innocent people,” said Ron. Deibert, director of Citizen Lab, a research group at the University of Toronto that has done several studies related to Pegasus espionage.
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