🔒Apple and Google Boost Security Against Government Spyware
Your phone just got a shield against government spies
TL;DR
Tech giants Apple and Google are beefing up defenses to protect users from sophisticated spyware used by governments. Features like Apple’s Lockdown Mode and Google’s Advanced Protection Program offer enhanced security for those at risk of targeted attacks.
Apple and Google have introduced robust security measures against government-sponsored hackers targeting journalists, activists, and critics with advanced spyware. These tools, such as Apple's Lockdown Mode and Google's Advanced Protection Program, aim to protect users by limiting device functionality but enhancing security features like blocking attachments in iMessage or restricting web technologies in Safari. If you're a journalist or human rights defender, these new defenses are crucial for safeguarding your data from state surveillance. For instance, since March 2023, Apple has never detected a successful attack on an iPhone with Lockdown Mode enabled.
Key Points
Apple's Lockdown Mode blocks attachments in iMessage and restricts web technologies like JavaScript in Safari when enabled (March 2023).
Google’s Advanced Protection Program includes Deep Gmail Scans and Safe Browsing in Chrome, enhancing account resilience against hackers since 2017.
Lockdown Mode changes device functionality to prevent spyware from accessing data or tracking users' real-time locations on Apple devices (March 2023).
Google's Advanced Protection Mode blocks connections to 2G networks and locks the device if it detects suspicious activity, adding another layer of security for Android users.
Both programs offer features like Google Play Protect and Memory Tagging Extension (MTE) to safeguard against unwanted messages and harmful links sent via Messages app.
Why It Matters
If you're a journalist or human rights defender using an iPhone with Lockdown Mode, your data is now better protected from sophisticated spyware attacks. Since March 2023, Apple has never detected a successful attack on iPhones with this feature enabled. For Android users, Google's Advanced Protection Program offers similar defenses against malicious hackers of all kinds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this matter?
If you're a journalist or human rights defender using an iPhone with Lockdown Mode, your data is now better protected from sophisticated spyware attacks. Since March 2023, Apple has never detected a successful attack on iPhones with this feature enabled. For Android users, Google's Advanced Protection Program offers similar defenses against malicious hackers of all kinds.
What happened?
Tech giants Apple and Google are beefing up defenses to protect users from sophisticated spyware used by governments. Features like Apple’s Lockdown Mode and Google’s Advanced Protection Program offer enhanced security for those at risk of targeted attacks.
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