Apple Lockdown Mode: Should You Use This Security Feature?

With the releases of macOS Ventura and iOS 16 in 2022, Apple rolled out a new feature called lockdown mode. It’s an excellent additional layer of protection, however balancing security with usability is something Apple users are going to have to evaluate. Some people may find it works well while others are frustrated with the inconveniences that accompany lockdown mode. Let’s take an up-close look at this feature to break down what it is, who it’s for, how to set it up, and whether it’s right for you. Lockdown mode can be enabled on any of your devices. According to Apple , “Lockdown Mode helps protect devices against extremely rare and highly sophisticated cyber attacks.” It’s designed as a strong front protecting users from severe, specifically targeted threats. Combined with features like Apple Private Relay , which safeguards your internet traffic by masking your IP address and encrypting data, Apple offers comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Apple recommends lockdown mode for people who, because of what they do or who they are, might be personally targeted by sophisticated and well-funded attackers. As its name implies, lockdown mode works by “locking down” your device. In cybersecurity, there’s a concept called “attack surface.” Attack surface is the number of different places that an attacker could try to get access. Lockdown Mode protects devices by limiting that attack surface. It reduces the number of ways malware , or hackers can get in. This isn’t always convenient for the user, though. Often, limiting attack surface requires hindering features. Lockdown Mode also protects against malicious Wi-Fi networks and the mobile data surveillance tool known as stingrays. Enabling Lockdown Mode is like setting up a fortress around your device. The system needs a full reboot to implement all the new security measures, and once it’s back on, everything looks almost the same. Lockdown Mode is designed to provide really strong protection, especially from spyware . So if somebody might be trying to spy on you, especially if that someone has a lot of resources they can use to target you, turning it on might be a good idea! Some people who are at high risk of being personally targeted by spyware or cyber attacks are: If you fall into one of those categories, turning on this feature could be a good choice. And just because it can be helpful doesn’t mean you always need to have it on. For example, if you’re a journalist, you may want the protection of Lockdown Mode while you’re overseas reporting on an oppressive regime. But you may not need it once you’ve returned to your home country. Lockdown Mode is available in iOS 16 or later, iPadOS 16 or later, watchOS 10 or later, and macOS Ventura or later. Additional protections are available in iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma. For a complete set of protections, update your devices to the latest software before turning on Lockdown Mode. Enabling Lockdown Mode is like switching your device’s language—the system must thoroughly adopt the new settings and implement them universally. After the reboot, your device powers back on, appearing much like it did before. So, Lockdown Mode provides enhanced protection by limiting the attack surface. But limiting the attack surface also limits features. And there are a lot of features that it limits. Some people find that the inconvenience of not being able to do certain things on their Apple device isn’t worth the protection they get. These are some of the things your Apple device will no longer do when Lockdown Mode is turned on: Some testers have also said that it limits other features, such as paying MP3 files, speech recognition abilities, and viewing PDF files. However, it doesn’t affect basic functions like making phone calls, sending or receiving text messages that are plain text, or any emergency features like the SOS emergency call. If you are being personally targeted by sophisticated cyber attacks, such as by a foreign government, the additional protection is valuable. After all, when your life or your freedom are in danger, making it more difficult to connect a mouse to your Mac seems like a small price to pay. If you are afraid a government is, or might be, tracking you, by all means, turn it on! But if you’re not being targeted by a government or well-funded hacker group, are you willing to give up features like shared photo albums, message attachments, and functional web browsing for that extra step of security that you may not need? For the average person at an ordinary level of risk (which is most of us), basic precautions will be good enough. Apple devices already tend to be secure . You can protect yourself even more with awareness and good security practices, like: If you decide you want to turn on Lockdown Mode, there’s nothing stopping you. You could even try it for a little bit and see if it feels too restrictive. But beware, the enhanced security might lead to some serious FOMO. Imagine missing out on spontaneous FaceTime calls from secret admirers or not getting the latest Vision Pro memes in your social media feed—it makes you wonder if everyone is hanging out without you! And if you can’t handle not having the option to autofill two-factor SMS codes in websites and forms anymore, you may want to go back. It’s easy to disable Lockdown Mode in that case, so fear not, you can get back to the life you knew on all your devices, with all the tech comforts you got used to. Because at the end of the day, Lockdown Mode is a great option for those who really need it, but for the rest of us, it’s a little over the top.