A new security feature in iOS 18 makes it harder for police to unlock iPhones.
This implies that it is also more complicated for phone thieves.
A new security feature has been discovered in iOS 18 that restarts iPhones that have not been unlocked for several days, frustrating law enforcement by making it harder to access suspects' devices. According to a recent report, restarting iPhones puts them into a more secure state known as "Before First Unlock" (BFU). Chris Wade, founder of the mobile analytics company Corellium, explained that an "inactivity restart" code has been added in iOS 18.1, which activates the restart of iPhones after being locked for four days.
This code, shared in the form of screenshots by the leader of a research group at the Hasso Plattner Institute, forces users to enter their security code (or PIN) when restarting the device, limiting the potential for data extraction by digital forensic experts. Both iOS and Android devices enter this BFU state after a restart, requiring a code to unlock them.
Over the years, Apple has worked to make unauthorized access to iPhones more difficult, creating tensions with authorities and raising concerns about potential government regulations that could require the implementation of backdoors in encryption systems. Despite constant requests from law enforcement to create these backdoors, Apple has maintained its opposing stance, although authorities have found alternative ways to attempt to access information on devices.
