Apple has confirmed that it will incorporate ‘usb restricted mode’ in an upcoming iOS version, with the Lightning port still being used for charging after one hour. That makes several tools to penetrate iPhones and iPads useless.
With the mode the iPhone or iPad no longer allows a data connection via the Lightning port if the device was last unlocked more than an hour ago. The option is standard in the beta of iOS 12.
Apple does not say in which iOS version “usb restricted mode” will be, but it was already in beta before 11.3, 11.4 and now in the iOS trial version 12. Techcrunch gambles that it will be a feature in iOS 12, which will be released this fall for all iPhones since the 5s and all iPads since the Air. The mode makes hacker tools such as Grayshift and Cellebrite useless, because it can brutefoot the code of iOS devices by connecting the iPhone or iPad via a cable to make more attempts.
Apple says the option, now in the beta is turned off by default, is intended for the security of customers. “We are constantly strengthening security in every Apple product to help customers defend themselves against hackers, identity thieves and burglaries on their personal data.” The company emphasizes that the move is not intended to counter government services that often use hacker tools to break into Apple devices. “We have great respect for law enforcement officers and we do not design our improvements in security to make their work more difficult.”
Apple presented iOS 12 last week. The beta for developers can be installed on all devices that will receive the upgrade this fall. The company mentions this autumn as the period in which the release takes place, but it is unclear when that will be exactly. Previous versions of iOS came out in September.