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

submitted 2 weeks ago by Stopthatgirl7@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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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[–] viking@infosec.pub 25 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Don't they auto update the OS when connected to a charger? But even then, that would have triggered a reboot already.

[–] ziggurat@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

This is the easiest thing for people with money, and motivation to avoid happening.

Remove the sim card if it's an older device, use a Faraday cage (your microwave is one) or a jammer. If you are the government you can also tell the telecom to block the phone from connecting

[–] bassomitron@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Police may be leaving phones online in case it continues receiving relevant evidence (texts, emails, etc).

[–] Aceticon@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I think you're seriously overestimating the technical prowess of the average law enforcement officer...