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> A person suspecting their iPhone has been hacked has no way to check it. Apple only offers a cope mechanism in the form of "lockdown mode", which likely can b

> A person suspecting their iPhone has been hacked has no way to check it. Apple only offers a cope mechanism in the form of "lockdown mode", which likely can be bypassed just as well. In the past, Apple alerted users (journalists, political activists, dissidents) when a "state-level actor" attempted to hack their iPhones [1]. Apparently, the FBI couldn't get past Lockdown Mode: FBI stymied by Apple’s Lockdown Mode after seizing journalist’s iPhone [2]" And don't forget about Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) that debuted on iPhone 17 and iPhone Air [3]: MIE is described as the industry's first always-on, comprehensive memory safety protection, built on the Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE) in synchronous mode, combined with secure typed allocators and tag confidentiality protections. [1]: https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/so-state-sponsored-attackers-are-targeting-your-mobile-device-now-what/ https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/so-state-sponsored-attacker... [2]: https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/fbi-stymied-by-apples-lockdown-mode-after-seizing-journalists-iphone/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/02/fbi-stymied-by-a... [3]: https://security.apple.com/blog/memory-integrity-enforcement https://security.apple.com/blog/memory-integrity-enforcement

varispeed 8mo ago
Yes, Apple controls who gets alerted about security breach. This means not everyone with compromised phone will get alerted. You are still in the dark. Maybe they could maybe they couldn't, doesn't mean criminals couldn't. MIE is opaque - Apple has not disclosed its design - it also means it can contain intentional backdoors and other security holes. In other words this is just meaningless PR and doesn't change the fact that Apple's security is poor.
- alwillis 8mo ago
  > This means not everyone with compromised phone will get alerted. You are still in the dark Apple only alerts people who are potentially in life threatening situations because of who they are or what they do: Apple today detailed two initiatives to help protect users who may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. Lockdown Mode — the first major capability of its kind, coming this fall with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura — is an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security. “Apple expands industry-leading commitment to protect users from highly targeted mercenary spyware” — https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/apple-expands-commitment-to-protect-users-from-mercenary-spyware/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/apple-expands-commitm...

varispeed 8mo ago

Yes, Apple controls who gets alerted about security breach. This means not everyone with compromised phone will get alerted. You are still in the dark. Maybe they could maybe they couldn't, doesn't mean criminals couldn't. MIE is opaque - Apple has not disclosed its design - it also means it can contain intentional backdoors and other security holes. In other words this is just meaningless PR and doesn't change the fact that Apple's security is poor.

alwillis 8mo ago
> This means not everyone with compromised phone will get alerted. You are still in the dark Apple only alerts people who are potentially in life threatening situations because of who they are or what they do: Apple today detailed two initiatives to help protect users who may be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats, such as those from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware. Lockdown Mode — the first major capability of its kind, coming this fall with iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS Ventura — is an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security. “Apple expands industry-leading commitment to protect users from highly targeted mercenary spyware” — https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/apple-expands-commitment-to-protect-users-from-mercenary-spyware/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/07/apple-expands-commitm...