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.

  • @[email protected]
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    734 days ago

    As a member of the intelligence community, I can almost guarantee that this is directed at the increased use of Cellebrite UFED hardware, specifically putting the device back into BFU mode, which removes cryptography-related memory allocations. This is also why you’re asked for your password instead of face or fingerprint upon reboot.

    • @phoneymouse
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      264 days ago

      I don’t know how Cellebrite is a legally operating company. Their entire business model is a violation of the computer fraud and abuse act.

      • Andromxda 🇺🇦🇵🇸🇹🇼
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        2 days ago

        Cellebrite is developed in Israel, a country that legally shouldn’t even exist, and is known for genocide, crime, espionage, manipulation and propaganda, more war crimes, illegal settlements, using their intelligence agency to assassinate political opponents abroad, etc.

        The so-called “only democracy in the middle east”

      • @[email protected]
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        04 days ago

        When the government does it, it’s not illegal.

        I’m sure the CFAA has an explicit exception for law enforcement anyway. Laws always do.

        • @phoneymouse
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          12 days ago

          Cellebrite themselves do it. The will unlock phones as a service.

    • @ziggurat
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      124 days ago

      I am also an intelligent individual in a community! High five

    • JoYo
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      114 days ago

      It also wasn’t a quiet patch, users had to opt in.

    • @[email protected]
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      -114 days ago

      As a member of the Intelligence community, please go find another job and stop harming people. Thanks.

      • Echo Dot
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        44 days ago

        The phrase “as a member of the intelligence community” is not the same “as as a mother”.

        Assuming it is true, always a caveat on the internet, It would actually give them a unique perspective into the situation rather than just using it as a catch-all excuse for Karen’s to be an uninformed twit.

      • @PriorityMotif
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        4 days ago

        Some people’s job is to improve security by finding flaws.

          • Echo Dot
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            13 days ago

            I assume being blown up by a terrorist is not everyone’s idea of a good time. Oh indeed anyones.

            • @[email protected]
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              03 days ago

              We have laws that prevent such things. We don’t need mass surveillance, just traditional LE

              • Echo Dot
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                12 days ago

                You’re right, we can make terrorism a crime. That will stop them.

        • @[email protected]
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          14 days ago

          When they say they’re part of the intelligence community, it seems highly likely that they are spying on their own citizens, or at least that’s what their job entails.