As a paranoid journalist, I am an enthusiastic user of Apple opt-in “perfect protection” part of Apple, Lockdown mode.

apple Lockdown mode launched In 2022, and since then the security part is considered a must use for corrupt countries, human rights defenses the truth of power.

Lockdown mode is designed to distance some parts of iPhones, iPads, and Mac, with intent to reduce the possibility that hackers armed Splhew or zero-day – Unknown errors in systems that allow attackers that they can take advantage – can successfully destroy Apple’s operating system protections and check its users.

In practice, the locking made removes some parts of the Apple Device, such as fonts that have been taken from the internet that you do not contact you when you arrive at you when you come to you when you are on your way and i-imessage; Although not clear if the latter is the case (more later).

In exchange for these troubles, locking mode is enabled for you to be hacked, even some of the most advanced hackers out there.

Lockdown mode has a track record to block advanced attacks. Apple says Don’t know any successful hack Against its users performing Lockdown mode, and digital group of Citizal Group Written an attempted spyware attack blocked in lock mode. I am also, personally heard some people in the offensive security industry complain about locking mode harder.

But three years after its debut, exactly how lockdown work is locked, and lacking explanations of the rationalization of what lock locking lock locking lock in locking mode. And, some of the locknown locknown notifications are non-confusing, unknown, or seem to be random, which can discourage certain users from using locking lock.

Blocked, but why?

Let me call it by saying that people who are at risk from government hackers should use lock mode, even if the restrictions come to it.

Those restrictions are not the problem. Locking lock notifications have become more confusing.

The point case: On another day, I received this notice in Lockdown mode (below) that no one else, talking to someone I didn’t talk in the months, and from whom I didn’t receive a message. After this announcement, when I asked if he tried to contact me, he said no, he didn’t.

Someone who told me that while scrolling their contacts, one of their friends saw a “lock mode blocked …

But … why?

In many months I got the same notice telling me that locking mode blocking someone “from contacting” me, I always laid out a person I know.

These notifications often pop up when I waste that person in yours, which is unclear when I stop taking their messages, or worse, that some of their messages lost thanks for locking locking mode.

Hell, maybe it meant I’m hacked, or most pointed? Should I check my phone every time I get one of these notifications?

It can keep me able to chat with people claimed in lockowned mode blocked. These people literally contacted me, and I chatted with them. What is Lockdown Mode doing?

Tapping Lockdown mode notifications don’t do anything. You have not been redirected to an Apple website explaining what locking in mode or none of it, nor does it mean what these notifications are specified.

“I don’t think these messages can help. They don’t include any context and don’t work, nor does it have a way to know what’s going on,” Runa Sandvik, “Runa Sandvik,” A hacker with a start to help reporters and other high risk of people who protect themselves, speaking to TechCrunch. “I want to see Apple even sharing more information so we can know what ‘do’ with them, or never show.”

Sandvik and I’m the only left in my chins every time we see lock locking notifications. If I write about my concerns about Lockdown mode over social media,, many people ANSWERED to the public – and privately – saying that they have similar experiences, and are also confused.

My editor Zack Whittaker, for example, there are months to claim lock locking notifications “

In the lab we go

I decided to run an experiment with the help of Harlo Holmes, the Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Digital Security at Freeday Foundation, a non-profit to help support free press. I wonder if something is done any differences – in terms of prompting notifications – if I don’t have my contacts tried to arrive at my phone, and what kind of content it can stop.

We have the same remodeling each other from our contact lists (we still have friends either), and start chatting the first time in IMSAGE. When the Holmes texted me – and we didn’t have each other’s contact lists – I received “locking mode blocked …” notice, this time showing his phone number. I still received his message.

We replace text, emojis, a picture of cats, and iMessage “stickers.” All this past, except stickers, which have become an unicode unicode to a question mark, or a nondescrip file attached, which cannot be opened, even if you cannot open:

If this happens, both Holmes and I’ll still look at the stickers we’ve sent from our own phones, which means that the receptacle is visible. Also that happens for “lock mode blocked …” notice. I received the announcement, but Holmes didn’t know that I got it.

It makes sense, as Apple doesn’t want to tip off government hackers that their attempt at hacking someone is not just working, but also moves the target something wrong.

It’s good to know, and again, I’m happy locking in mode blocking something, and I’m making a safer, but I still don’t know what these notifications tell me.

I refer to Apple asking them for some explanations, but an Apple spokesman does not provide record records by time of press. At least the spokesman’s spokesman receives my message, so I know it’s not blocked in lock mode.