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.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      35
      ·
      6 days ago

      It does not. I don’t have it on my Pixel 6. From other people’s comments, it sounds like Samsung and other OEMs have added their version, though.

    • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      6 days ago

      That seals the deal for me on rooting my pixel. I’ve been hesitant about rooting ever since I bricked an extra galaxy s3 and nearly bricked my (main device) Verizon galaxy s5

      • iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        6 days ago

        GrapheneOS is the easiest ROM install bar none. Get the en browser (needs to be chrome-based) to the install url, hook the phone cable, and let it run. It’s super straightforward. It’s not rooting though, you don’t get root access by default.

        • rockSlayer@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          6 days ago

          Wow things sure changed about Android roms! I still remember how difficult it was to try to simply install a rom through Knox

    • pycorax@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      5 days ago

      Samsung does too but I’ve not set it up as such. Instead, it automatically locks the device from biometric unlocks every 24 hours until you login with your pin again.

    • umami_wasabi@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      6 days ago

      It does, labled “Auto Restart”, but only when “preformance issues detected” or time specified. Apple is quite late on this feature.

      Screenshot of Android Auto Restart Settings page

      • azron@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        edit-2
        6 days ago

        on GrapheneOS it is labeled auto reboot and it specifically says “automatically reboot device if it hasn’t been unlocked in xxx hours” with a default of 18.

      • Album@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        6 days ago

        This is clearly the Samsung interface and thus not stock Android. Doesn’t even really look like the same feature.