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Apple Quietly Introduced iPhone Reboot Code Which is Locking Out Cops (www.404media.co)

submitted 5 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

264 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Apple quietly introduced code into iOS 18.1 which reboots the device if it has not been unlocked for a period of time, reverting it to a state which improves the security of iPhones overall and is making it harder for police to break into the devices, according to multiple iPhone security experts.

On Thursday, 404 Media reported that law enforcement officials were freaking out that iPhones which had been stored for examination were mysteriously rebooting themselves. At the time the cause was unclear, with the officials only able to speculate why they were being locked out of the devices. Now a day later, the potential reason why is coming into view.

“Apple indeed added a feature called ‘inactivity reboot’ in iOS 18.1.,” Dr.-Ing. Jiska Classen, a research group leader at the Hasso Plattner Institute, tweeted after 404 Media published on Thursday along with screenshots that they presented as the relevant pieces of code.

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[–] [email protected] 93 points 5 days ago (21 children)

There is no shortage of reasons to dislike Apple. This isn’t one of them.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 5 days ago (10 children)

There is a scene in Mr Robot where Darlene is able to do a full wipe on her phone without even looking at the screen.

I wish I was that good.

I want a way that I can trigger this from the main lock screen without unlocking the phone.

Like a specific pin you have to enter twice to trigger the full wipe.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 5 days ago (2 children)

GrapheneOS has this. I believe it's called a Duress PIN.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I've set mine up so that entering my PIN backwards will nuke it. At which point I can ask for my phone back.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago

At which point you will be taken to a dark room downstairs and 3 cops will testify they tried very hard to stop you from violently and repetitively throwing your head at their baton in a menacing manner which made them fear for their life.

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