Apples New Lockdown Mode for iPhone Fights Hacking, Spyware
Summary
On Wednesday, it bolstered that effort with a new feature coming this fall called Lockdown Mode, designed to fight targeted hacking attempts like the Pegasus malware, which oppressive governments reportedly used on human rights workers, lawyers, politicians and journalists. The tech giant said that Lockdown Mode is designed to activate "extreme" protections to its phones, such as blocking attachments and link previews in messages, potentially hackable web browsing technologies, and incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers. Along with the new Lockdown Mode, which Apple calls an "extreme" measure, the company announced a $10 million grant to the Dignity and Justice Fund, which was established by the Ford Foundation, to help support human rights and fight social repression. "Every day we see these threats broadening and deepening," said Lori McGlinchey, director of the Ford Foundations Technology and Society program, who is working with technical advisers including Apples Krstić to help direct the fund. Ron Deibert, a professor of political science and director of the Citizen Lab cybersecurity researchers at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, said he expects Apples Lockdown Mode will be a "major blow" to spyware companies and the governments who rely on their products."
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