lockdown mode / spyware

Apple says it has found no instances of mercenary spyware successfully compromising devices while Lockdown Mode was enabled since the feature’s 2022 debut. The company told TechCrunch it is unaware of any successful attacks against Lockdown Mode–protected devices, a claim echoed by Amnesty International’s security lab and supported by Citizen Lab and Google researchers who documented cases where Lockdown Mode blocked Pegasus and Predator attempts. Security experts like Patrick Wardle call the feature one of the most aggressive consumer hardening measures, noting it reduces attack surface by blocking message attachments and restricting WebKit. While undetected bypasses remain possible, Apple’s statement underscores Lockdown Mode’s role defending high-risk users from government spyware.

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Apple says it has not observed any successful mercenary spyware hacks against devices with Lockdown Mode enabled since the feature launched in 2022. The company told TechCrunch that it is unaware of successful attacks on Lockdown Mode-enabled devices, echoing findings from Amnesty International and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, which have not documented breaches where Lockdown Mode was active and in some cases observed it blocking NSO Group’s Pegasus and Predator spyware. Security experts say Lockdown Mode reduces the iPhone attack surface by disabling common exploitation vectors, forcing attackers to use costlier techniques. While undetected bypasses remain possible, Apple’s claim underscores the feature’s effectiveness for high-risk users.

The tech giant's claim that it has not seen any successful spyware attacks targeting Apple devices with Lockdown Mode enabled comes amid a leak of hacking tools targeting users running devices with older software.