TL;DR
- Interestingly, the feature was discovered by accident. Initially, law enforcement agencies noticed that confiscated iPhones were randomly rebooting.
- Inactivity Reboot is a new iOS 18 feature that reboots inactive iPhones after three days of inactivity.
- The Inacvitiy Reboot is an addition to the on-device security features on the iPhone, making the phones safer for users and more tedious for bad actors.
While Apple usually makes a big deal about new features, iOS 18.1 adds a new little trick that nobody knows about (yet). Apparently, the latest iPhone operating system has a new security feature that can reboot the phone when it remains inactive for longer than usual. Once the device reboots, it becomes difficult for the thieves to access the stored information, as it asks for the passcode.
Interestingly, the feature was discovered by accident. Initially, law enforcement agencies noticed that confiscated iPhones were randomly rebooting (via 404 Media), making it difficult for them to log in without the passcode. However, later, a security researcher, Jiska Classen, confirmed that the behavior was due to the addition of a new security feature called Inactivity Reboot.
Also Read: Apple Intelligence India: How to Access on iOS 18.1
What Is Inactivity Reboot?
Inactivity Reboot is a new iOS 18 feature that reboots inactive iPhones after three days of inactivity (some references also mention the duration to be four days, but the researcher says its three days). This puts the iPhones in the “Before First Unlock (BFU).” state, where it is mandatory to enter the passcode to unlock the phone.
In your time with an iPhone, you might have noticed that it asks for the security code when rebooted. This is referred to as the “Before First Unlock (BFU),” which locks the encryption keys in the Secure Enclave Processor for safekeeping. Further, biometric unlock via Touch ID or Face ID doesn’t work in this state.
Also Read: iOS 18.1 Writing Tools: How To Use The New Apple Intelligence Feature On An iPhone?
Inactivity Reboot: Advantages And Disadvantages
In simple words, it is harder to crack an iPhone when it is in the BFU state, as first, thieves will have to enter the passcode, but on top of that, they won’t be able to use outdated forensic tools to break past the lock screen.
However, in addition to troubling thieves, the Inactivity Reboot feature will also trouble law enforcement agencies, making accessing a criminal’s code difficult. Nonetheless, it will still allow the police three days before the phone is locked.
Also Read: Apple iPhone 16 Review: Feels And Handles Like A Pro, Minus The Price Tag
The Securite Feature Builds Upon Apple’s Stolen Device Protection
With iOS 17.3, Apple released Stolen Device Protection, a feature that locks the critical settings of an iPhone, like resetting the Apple ID password or the passcode of the device, behind a security delay of an hour, especially when they aren’t at a familiar location (like their house or office). The Inacvitiy Reboot is an addition to the on-device security features on the iPhone, making the phones safer for users and more tedious for bad actors.
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