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.

  • Davel23@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    1 month ago

    Where would I find that setting? I have an S22 Ultra and I can’t seem to find it. Unless my phone has fallen out of support…

    • ben
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      1 month ago

      It’s under device care -> auto optimization in settings. You can also just search “restart” in settings and it should pop up.