Apple added a new security feature with the iOS 18.1 update released last month to ensure that iPhones automatically restart after long periods of inactivity to re-encrypt data and make it harder to extract .
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While the company has yet to officially confirm this new “ inactivity reboot ” feature, police officers were the first to discover it after they noticed suspects’ iPhones rebooting while in custody, as first reported by 404 Media
Automatic restart changes dormant iPhone devices from After First Unlock (AFU) to Before First Unlock (BFU), where the devices are more difficult to break into using forensic phone unlocking tools.
Additionally, DFU makes it more difficult, if not impossible, to extract stored data, as even the operating system itself can no longer access it using encryption keys stored in memory. Simply put, on iOS devices, all data is encrypted using an encryption key that was created during the first installation/setup of the operating system.
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GrapheneOS told BleepingComputer that when an iPhone is unlocked using a PIN or biometric feature like Face ID, the operating system loads the encryption keys into memory. After that, when a file needs to be accessed, it will automatically decrypt using those encryption keys.
However, after an iPhone automatically restarts, it goes into a “sleep” state, no longer storing encryption keys in memory. Thus, there is no way to decrypt the data, making it much more resistant to hacking.
If law enforcement or malicious actors gain access to an already locked device, they can use exploits to bypass the lock screen. Since the decryption keys are still loaded in memory, they can access all of the phone's data.
Automatically restarting your iPhone after a period of inactivity will automatically erase keys from memory and prevent law enforcement or criminals from accessing your phone's data.
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iPhones are renowned for their advanced security features that protect users’ data and personal information. One of the most prominent features is Face ID, which uses facial recognition technology to quickly and securely access the device. Touch ID also remains a popular option that allows for fingerprint recognition. In addition, the iPhone includes built-in data encryption and privacy features such as App Tracking Transparency, which allows users to control which apps can track their activity. The iOS operating system provides regular security updates to address new threats, making the iPhone one of the most secure options on the market today.
Source: bleepingcomputer
