Apple to test iPhone and Macs against hackers

Apple is going to roll out a new Lockdown Mode option for its upcoming iPhone and Mac software that protects users against mercenary spyware unleashed by state-sponsored hackers.

The technology giant said the new feature is an extreme optional protection for device owners who are more likely to be targeted by nation states using powerful spyware, like journalists, activists and human rights defenders.

Lockdown Mode will be available for Apple's iPhones, iPads and Macs this fall and turning it on will block most attachments sent to the Messages app.

The growing use of WhatsApp and Signal has led governments to turn to commercial spyware vendors to gather information on targets.

In a statement, Ivan Krsti, head of security engineering and architecture at Apple Inc. said: "While the vast majority of users will never be the victims of highly targeted cyberattacks, we will work tirelessly to protect the small number of users who are. That includes continuing to design defenses specifically for these users, as well as supporting researchers and organizations around the world doing critically important work in exposing mercenary companies that create these digital attacks. The safeguard that was announced Wednesday is a tacit acknowledgement that Apple has not been able to adequately shield its products against intrusions from state-backed hackers and commercial spyware. The tools used by governments have been used to violate the privacy of journalists, political dissidents and human rights activists.

Apple said that the extreme optional security level would only be offered to a very small number of users who have been targeted by threats to their digital security. Private companies like Israel's NSO Group have been selling phone hacking software to government agencies around the world for years, despite the fact that only a handful of countries seem to have the resources to develop in-house mobile phone hacking tools.

The growing hacker-for-hire problem resulted in Apple filing a federal lawsuit last year against NSO Group for breaking into iPhones and other Apple products. Apple accused the NSO Group employees of being amoral 21st century mercenaries who have created highly sophisticated cyber-surveillance machinery that invites routine and flagrant abuse. NSO, which has been blacklisted by the U.S. Commerce Department, denied any wrongdoing and said its products have been used to thwart child abusers and terrorists.

The lockdown measure is considered a last resort for people targeted by spyware, since activating lockdown will disable many popular features. That includes sending attachments and links in texts, as well as the ability to receive FaceTime calls from new numbers. Web browsing will be limited.

Google, whose Android mobile platform is used by iPhone competitors, has been targeted by commercial spyware vendors. The Threat Analysis Group says it is tracking more than 30 such companies and routinely publishes reports on exploits used to hack into phones, making them less effective.

Google also has an Advanced Protection Program that uses a special security key to make user accounts harder to hack. The program is strongly recommended for journalists, activists, business executives, and people involved in elections. The new feature will be offered as a test version so that security researchers can help Apple identify bugs or weaknesses.

Apple provided more details about a $10 million grant it pledged in November to help counter large-scale hacking attacks. The money will go to the Dignity and Justice Fund, a philanthropic arm of the Ford Foundation.