Tag: Lockdown Mode

Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme security setting available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, built specifically for the small number of people who face a genuinely elevated risk of sophisticated, targeted cyberattacks — journalists, activists, and others who might be specifically targeted by advanced spyware rather than facing the more common, broad-based threats most people encounter. It’s not designed or recommended for everyday use, but understanding what it does helps clarify when it might genuinely be worth turning on.

When enabled, Lockdown Mode significantly restricts certain functionality across the device in exchange for a much smaller attack surface for sophisticated exploits to target. Message attachments other than certain image types are blocked, and features like link previews are disabled, since malicious links and attachments are common vectors for advanced spyware. Web browsing performance may be reduced since Lockdown Mode disables certain complex web technologies that have historically been exploited in sophisticated attacks. Incoming FaceTime calls from people you haven’t previously called are blocked outright, and wired connections to accessories are restricted while the device is locked.

The tradeoff with Lockdown Mode is real and intentional — it meaningfully reduces the convenience and functionality of everyday device use in exchange for closing off attack methods that have historically been used in targeted spyware campaigns against high-risk individuals. For the vast majority of everyday users, standard security practices like a strong passcode, two-factor authentication, and keeping software updated provide more than adequate protection against the threats they’re actually likely to face, and Lockdown Mode’s restrictions would be an unnecessary daily inconvenience.

We help customers understand whether Lockdown Mode is genuinely relevant to their specific situation, since it’s designed for a narrow use case rather than general-purpose security, and if it is warranted, we help enable it correctly and understand which everyday features will be affected so there are no surprises afterward. For everyone else, we recommend the standard set of security practices that provide strong protection without the significant functionality tradeoffs Lockdown Mode requires.