© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Multiple top opposition leaders and a few journalists have reported receiving a notification from Apple about “state-sponsored attackers” remotely trying to compromise their iPhones. The notification says that these individuals are being singled out because of who they are or what they do, and advises them on how to protect themselves, including activating the ‘Lockdown Mode’ feature on their iPhones.
Apple has been sending out such notifications when it suspects some activity resembles a state-sponsored attack since late 2021 and has so far notified individuals in 150 countries.
The notifications sent out to affected users are accompanied by some extra steps they can take to protect their devices and safeguard their privacy. Some of the general security tips that Apple recommends are:
– Keeping the devices updated with the latest software versions, which contain the most recent security patches
– Setting a passcode for the devices
– Enabling two-factor authentication and using a strong password for the Apple ID
– Downloading apps only from the App Store
– Using different passwords for each online account
– Avoiding clicking on links or attachments from unknown sources
Besides these, Apple also suggests activating Lockdown Mode, which is a feature designed specifically to protect users against rare and sophisticated cyber attacks like these.
Lockdown Mode is a special feature that Apple introduced in its latest software updates to specifically protect users from sophisticated spyware attacks that could compromise their devices and data.
When you activate Lockdown Mode, your device will enter a state of high security, where many of the usual functions will be restricted or disabled. For example, you won’t be able to send or receive attachments, links, or link previews in messages, to prevent attackers from accessing your personal information.
Lockdown Mode is only available on devices that run iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later and macOS Ventura or later. Apple claims that these kinds of spyware attacks are very rare and target only specific individuals, but if you ever feel that your device or data is in danger, you can turn on Lockdown Mode by going to Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Lockdown Mode, and toggling it on.
