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Apple Quietly Introduced iPhone Reboot Code Which is Locking Out Cops (www.404media.co)

submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

264 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago (1 children)

To confiscate anything, unless it's lying openly, you need a warrant.

If a cop sees an unlocked phone with evidence of a crime on it, that doesn't need a warrant. If it's locked and they only have the suspicion of evidence, they need a warrant. Same as with entering a building or drilling a safe.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Is analogy with people in (very quiet) places who don't lock doors to their homes correct? Then it's as if the door is not locked, a cop doesn't have to ask permission (or warrant)?

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

No. Even if a house is unlocked, the fourth amendment guarantees "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures".

What constitutes "unreasonable", is of course, up to a judge.

If a cop can look in your window from the porch and see a meth lab, yeah, they're going to come back with a warrant, mostly because they can't just pick up the house and take it to evidence. If your phone is lying unlocked, and they see something obviously criminal on the screen, they're going to take it right then and there.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

That's what I meant. Phones should be treated similarly to houses.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Seems like he's saying they are. If they see something criminal on the phone then it's not an unreasonable seizure.