Khaberni - Tech reports revealed a super-protective feature hidden by Apple inside iPhones, known as "Lockdown Mode", capable of disabling advanced hacking attempts, including state-level attacks.
According to the reports, the feature drew attention after successfully protecting a journalist's phone during the seizure of his device, where the FBI's forensic team failed to access the phone's content because of this heightened security mode.
Lockdown Mode relies on minimizing phone functions to shut off all potential pathways that might be exploited by hackers.
When activated, strict restrictions are imposed on interactions with apps, websites, and other devices; in the Messages app, most types of attachments are blocked, and links and previews are completely banned.
FaceTime calls are limited to contacts that have been in touch in the last 30 days, with features like "SharePlay" and "Live Photos" disabled, shared albums disappear from the Photos app, and geographical location data is automatically removed from any photos sent.
On the communication level, the phone prevents connection to unsafe "Wi-Fi" networks, blocks connections over old second and third generation networks, and requires unlocking the device before connecting to any computer.
Despite these restrictions, basic services such as regular calls, text messages, and the emergency "SOS" feature continue to function, although the daily experience clearly becomes less smooth, indicating that the mode is designed for high-risk situations and not for everyday use.
Users can activate "Lockdown Mode" by going to settings, then the "Privacy and Security" section, choosing "Lockdown Mode", then confirming activation and restarting the phone.
Once activated, the restrictions are immediately applied to apps like Messages, the "Safari" browser, and "FaceTime", with the option to disable it at any time through the settings.
