Apple unveiled two programs to assist in defending customers who may be specifically targeted by some of the most cutting-edge cyberthreats, such as those from private organizations creating state-sponsored mercenary spyware.
Lockdown Mode is an extreme, optional kind of protection for the extremely small percentage of customers who are subject to serious, targeted threats to their digital security. It is the first major capability of its kind and will be released this autumn with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura.
Apple also provided information on the $10 million cybersecurity fund it established in November, which would help civil society organizations that study and advocate against the threat posed by mercenary spyware.
“Apple makes the most secure mobile devices on the market. Lockdown Mode is a groundbreaking capability that reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting users from even the rarest, most sophisticated attacks,”
Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture.
For the extremely few individuals who may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from NSO Group and other commercial organizations creating state-sponsored mercenary malware, Lockdown Mode offers an extreme, discretionary level of security. Lockdown Mode in iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura substantially reduces the attack surface that might be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware by strengthening device protections and rigidly limiting some functionality.
Apple will gradually increase Lockdown Mode’s security and add more safeguards to it. The company has also created a new category inside the Apple Security Bounty program to reward researchers who discover Lockdown Mode bypasses and help strengthen its defenses in an effort to solicit input and cooperation from the security research community. In Lockdown Mode, rewards are increased by two times for eligible discoveries, up to a maximum bounty payout of $2,000,000, which is currently the highest bounty value in the industry.