How to Use “Lockdown Mode” on IOS 16 and MacOS Ventura
Apple often implements features to keep the average user’s personal data secure, but it’s much more difficult to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks from state-sponsored hacker groups. To combat these high-level threats, Apple is introducing a new “Lockdown Mode” for iOS/iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura. But does it mean anything to you?
In its official announcement, Apple says the lockdown mode is for “the very few users who, because of who they are or what they do, could be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as threats from the NSO Group and other private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware.” As the name suggests, this feature completely blocks many of the most vulnerable features of Apple products to prevent hackers from gaining access to user data.
In block mode, any attachments to incoming messages (except images) are blocked, including link previews. Calls and FaceTime invitations through other Apple services from unknown contacts are also automatically blocked. These are all common vectors that hackers use to inject malware or spyware into a vulnerable device .
Safari’s JIT compiler for JavaScript and other web features are also disabled as malicious ads and websites are another major threat, especially if Safari has unpatched bugs that a hacker could exploit . This also applies to other iOS and Mac browsers that also use the Safari WebKit engine.
The lock mode can also prevent physical access to certain files on your phone. For example, all shared photo albums become invisible, and invitations to a shared album are blocked. Similarly, wired connections to external devices or accessories (such as computers) are disabled when the screen is locked, preventing access to your data. It also blocks feature and setting changes, such as installing configuration profiles or registering with MDM.
Lockdown mode is disabled by default because its elevated security settings are probably overkill for the average user, but the feature will be available on all iOS 16 and macOS Ventura compatible devices, so anyone can use it. It’s now available in the latest Apple OS betas if you’d like to try it out sooner, along with many of the other new features available in iOS 16 .
How to Enable Lockdown Mode on iOS/iPadOS 16 or macOS Ventura
- On iOS/iPad: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
- On Mac: Go to System Preferences > Privacy & Security.
- On the Privacy & Security screen, scroll down and select Lock Mode.
- A pop-up window will appear with detailed information about the blocking mode. Click “More” if you need more information, otherwise select “Enable Blocking Mode ” to continue.
- Select “Turn on and restart” to confirm.
- Your device will reboot. Unlock with your device’s pin/password. All lock mode settings are now enabled. You can also turn off lock mode using the steps above.
It’s hard to imagine a reason why you need to use blocking mode, but it’s nice to know that it’s there. And if you want to be less aggressive about your Apple device’s security, there are plenty of other privacy settings available for regular iOS, iPad, and Mac users, including features that protect your iPhone data from advertisers and Safari settings. that prevent websites from tracking you .