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Apple Warns iPhone Users—Do Not Change This Setting
In a stark warning, Apple has cautioned iPhone users against altering a specific setting on their devices. Lockdown Mode, a previously unknown feature, is designed to provide extreme protection for a select few individuals who may be targeted by highly sophisticated cyber attacks.
As reported in mainstream press outlets, Lockdown Mode severely limits the functionality of your device, effectively disabling certain apps, websites, and features, which may not even work as you expect. Message attachments will no longer be available, web pages won’t display normally, some calls will be blocked, photo albums will become inaccessible, wireless connections will be disabled, and some accessories will stop working.
If you enable Lockdown Mode, your iPhone will essentially become a basic communication device without the luxury of enjoying the full range of features you’re accustomed to. It’s understandable that users may feel enticed by this setting, especially in light of recent news about mercenary spyware attacks. However, Apple emphasizes that this mode is not intended for the average user.
In fact, the tech giant explicitly states that Lockdown Mode “is designed for the very small number of individual users who may be targeted by extreme cyber attacks.” This highlights that using such a feature would be an overkill for most people.
Instead, Apple recommends following basic security hygiene practices to keep your device and data safe. These include keeping your phone running the latest version of iOS, installing new updates as soon as they become available, being cautious when downloading apps from the App Store, avoiding public WiFi networks unless your web traffic is encrypted, refraining from sending sensitive information over such networks, defaulting to fully encrypted texts and calls whenever possible, using a reputable VPN while traveling, enabling stolen device protection, limiting location tracking, setting up a strong PIN and FaceID.
These precautions will provide robust security for the majority of users without resorting to extreme measures like Lockdown Mode. In essence, Apple is urging iPhone users not to alter this setting unless they’re in one of those highly sensitive roles or genuinely fear nation-state level attacks.
In conclusion, it’s essential to be aware that such a feature exists and understand its limitations. If you’re not among the select few who may require Lockdown Mode, there’s no compelling reason to enable it.
Source: www.forbes.com
