Members from Apple’s privacy and security engineering teams sat down for a new interview with Fast Company‘s Harry McCracken to discuss how the company is tackling users’ digital well-being with features including Lockdown Mode, Safety Check, and iCloud Advanced Data Protection.
Lockdown Mode
Lockdown Mode is a new security feature Apple introduced in iOS 16. The new mode provides an extra layer of hardened security mainly aimed at political activists and journalists who can be the target of intricate cyberattacks from government-backed actors.
These are attackers who are willing to spend untold millions and millions and millions of dollars going after extremely small numbers of people.
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Ivan Krstić – Head of Apple Security Engineering and Architecture
Apple’s goal with Lockdown Mode was to provide users with a one-stop-shop option that quickly provided them with the maximum level of security available on iOS, rather than having to juggle and “fine-tune their own level of self-defense.” According to the interview, research from Citizen Lab proves the effectiveness of Lockdown Mode particularly against the newest Pegasus spyware by the infamous NSO Group.
Safety Check
Introduced with iOS 16, Safety Check is another crucial privacy feature that enables users to safely escape abusive relationships. The feature allows victims of domestic abuse to unilaterally end the sharing of sensitive info such as passwords, location, and more with their abusive partners. Safety Check also makes use of a persistent “Quick Exit” button to abruptly shut down the tool to avoid the risk of exposure.
We wanted to have something that was as fast as possible, because what we heard from the community is that time is of the essence.
Katie Skinner – Privacy Engineering Project Manager at Apple
iCloud Advanced Data Protection
Apple brought end-to-end encryption to iCloud in the form of Advanced Data Protection last year. As of iOS 16.2 and newer, users can opt to encrypt all data categories stored on iCloud including backups, iCloud Drive, Photos, and Wallet passes.
Apple understands the “high stakes” involved with the digital well-being and privacy of their users, and Advanced Data Protection highlights the “relentless ambition” of the engineers behind those features. In the words of Erick Neuenschwander, Apple’s Director of User Privacy, Apple is never completely satisfied with their shipped products and is always looking to improve them.
We’ve never been completely satisfied, probably, with anything that we’ve shipped. We’re always looking to keep iterating.
Eric Neuenschwander – Apple’s Director of User Privacy
New privacy features in iOS 17
Apple plans to release more privacy-oriented features once its upcoming iOS 17 and other major software releases are made available to the public in the fall. Safari Private Browsing, for example, can be locked behind a password when not in use, and URL cross-site trackers will automatically be removed from links shared through Messages and Mail.
Communication Safety, designed to limit children from exposure to explicit photos sent and received through Messages, will also expand to cover video content in addition to shared AirDrop media. A new API will also allow developers to make use of Communication Safety in third-party apps. Apple also states that it plans to bring Lockdown Mode to the Apple Watch with watchOS 10.
