Apple To Add Lockdown Protection To Iphone Ipad Mac Campbell River Mirror

The safeguard announced Wednesday is a tacit admission that even Apple — the world’s most valuable company — has been unable to adequately protect the iPhone and its other products from intrusions by state-sponsored hackers and commercial spyware. Governments have used these tools to invade the privacy of journalists, political dissidents and human rights activists. The new feature, called “lock mode,” will initially be offered as a test version so that security researchers can help Apple identify any bugs or vulnerabilities. Apple usually releases major updates to its device operating systems at the end of September. While only a few countries seem to have the resources to develop mobile phone hacking tools domestically, private companies such as Israel’s NSO Group have been selling phone hacking software to government agencies around the world for years. The growing problem of recruiting hackers prompted Apple to file a federal lawsuit late last year against NSO Group for hacking into iPhones and other Apple products. In its complaint, Apple accused NSO Group employees of being “21st century unethical mercenaries who have created highly sophisticated cybersurveillance mechanisms that invite routine and flagrant abuse.” NSO, which has been blacklisted by the US Commerce Department, has denied any wrongdoing and said its products have been used to deter child abusers and terrorists. Unlike the security features that Apple builds into most of its software, the company’s lock feature is intended to serve as an emergency button that Apple expects only a small number of its users will need. The lockdown measure is considered a last resort for people targeted by spyware, as enabling the lockdown will disable many popular features. This includes sending attachments and links in text messages, as well as being able to receive FaceTime calls from new numbers. Web browsing will also be restricted. However, Apple believes the extra layer of protection will be valuable to activists, journalists and other targets of hacking attacks launched by well-funded groups. Users will be able to turn the lock feature on and off at will. READ MORE: PODCAST: Legendary BC businessman Jim Pattison is still going strong at 92 The growing use of encrypted communications via phone apps like WhatsApp and Signal has prompted governments to turn to commercial spyware vendors to gather information about targets. Such mobile phone eavesdropping software collects text messages, emails and photos while secretly checking a smartphone’s microphones and cameras. Some of the more advanced tools can infect a phone using so-called “zero-click” exploits that don’t depend on the user inadvertently activating them, such as by clicking on a malicious link. Google, whose Android mobile phone platform is used by iPhone competitors, has also been targeted by commercial spyware vendors. The company’s Threat Analysis Group says it monitors more than 30 such companies and regularly publishes reports on exploits used to break into phones, making them far less effective. Google also offers an “Advanced Protection Program” that uses special security key hardware to make user accounts harder to hack. The company said it highly recommends the program for “journalists, activists, business executives and people involved in elections.” Separately, Apple also provided more details about a $10 million grant it pledged last November to help deal with large-scale hacking attacks. The money will go to the Dignity and Justice Fund, a philanthropic arm of the Ford Foundation. The Associated Press Like us on span> Facebook and follow us on Twitter BusinessCellphonesTechnology

title: “Apple To Add Lockdown Protection To Iphone Ipad Mac Campbell River Mirror " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Patricia Caneles”

The safeguard announced Wednesday is a tacit admission that even Apple — the world’s most valuable company — has been unable to adequately protect the iPhone and its other products from intrusions by state-sponsored hackers and commercial spyware. Governments have used these tools to invade the privacy of journalists, political dissidents and human rights activists. The new feature, called “lock mode,” will initially be offered as a test version so that security researchers can help Apple identify any bugs or vulnerabilities. Apple usually releases major updates to its device operating systems at the end of September. While only a few countries seem to have the resources to develop mobile phone hacking tools domestically, private companies such as Israel’s NSO Group have been selling phone hacking software to government agencies around the world for years. The growing problem of recruiting hackers prompted Apple to file a federal lawsuit late last year against NSO Group for hacking into iPhones and other Apple products. In its complaint, Apple accused NSO Group employees of being “21st century unethical mercenaries who have created highly sophisticated cybersurveillance mechanisms that invite routine and flagrant abuse.” NSO, which has been blacklisted by the US Commerce Department, has denied any wrongdoing and said its products have been used to deter child abusers and terrorists. Unlike the security features that Apple builds into most of its software, the company’s lock feature is intended to serve as an emergency button that Apple expects only a small number of its users will need. The lockdown measure is considered a last resort for people targeted by spyware, as enabling the lockdown will disable many popular features. This includes sending attachments and links in text messages, as well as being able to receive FaceTime calls from new numbers. Web browsing will also be restricted. However, Apple believes the extra layer of protection will be valuable to activists, journalists and other targets of hacking attacks launched by well-funded groups. Users will be able to turn the lock feature on and off at will. READ MORE: PODCAST: Legendary BC businessman Jim Pattison is still going strong at 92 The growing use of encrypted communications via phone apps like WhatsApp and Signal has prompted governments to turn to commercial spyware vendors to gather information about targets. Such mobile phone eavesdropping software collects text messages, emails and photos while secretly checking a smartphone’s microphones and cameras. Some of the more advanced tools can infect a phone using so-called “zero-click” exploits that don’t depend on the user inadvertently activating them, such as by clicking on a malicious link. Google, whose Android mobile phone platform is used by iPhone competitors, has also been targeted by commercial spyware vendors. The company’s Threat Analysis Group says it monitors more than 30 such companies and regularly publishes reports on exploits used to break into phones, making them far less effective. Google also offers an “Advanced Protection Program” that uses special security key hardware to make user accounts harder to hack. The company said it highly recommends the program for “journalists, activists, business executives and people involved in elections.” Separately, Apple also provided more details about a $10 million grant it pledged last November to help deal with large-scale hacking attacks. The money will go to the Dignity and Justice Fund, a philanthropic arm of the Ford Foundation. The Associated Press Like us on span> Facebook and follow us on Twitter BusinessCellphonesTechnology