Following the conclusion of WWDC earlier this month, Apple released a developer preview of iOS 10. Unlike previous versions of the platform, it included a very big surprise: an unencrypted kernel.
For those who don't know, we are referring to the kernel of the operating system, which controls how applications can use a device's hardware components and implements various security protocols.
Leaving the kernel exposed doesn't mean iOS 10 will be vulnerable to attacks. Instead, Apple's new approach leaves more room for researchers to discover ways to make the kernel more secure.
So while at first everyone thought it was a huge mistake on the company's part, Apple issued a statement stating that this move was intentional:
“By decrypting (the kernel) we will be able to optimize the performance of the operating system without compromising security.”
Apple did not specify how this could improve performance, but there is a clear benefit to decrypting the kernel: iOS fans will be able to discover bugs and report them to the company before the final version is released and installed on millions of devices.
MIT's Technology Review reports that this approach could help close more security holes in Apple's software and make it harder for government agencies to gain unauthorized access to the company's devices, as they did in the case of San Bernardino's iPhone.
However, Apple would do well to give developers an extra incentive to report bugs by launching a bug bounty program. The company's rivals Google and Microsoft already have similar initiatives. It seems Apple has decided to get in on the game too.
Here we should mention that opening up the iOS kernel will probably upset jailbreakers as the species is expected to disappear.
