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If you happen to upgraded to iOS 26, you realize the design modifications and visible overhaul of Liquid Glass are undeniably spectacular. However from a safety perspective, one characteristic particularly has piqued my curiosity and seemingly gone below the radar: a brand new permission setting for wired equipment. This ignored characteristic may very well be some of the sensible defenses Apple has shipped in years.
In iOS 26, everytime you plug right into a wired accent, the system prompts you to permit or deny knowledge switch. If you happen to faucet “Don’t Permit,” the telephone prices however blocks all knowledge stream. If you happen to faucet “Permit,” the accent, whether or not it’s a charging cable, dock, or different gadget, can provoke knowledge communication along with your iPhone.
If the telephone is locked, iOS 26 won’t let any accent transmit knowledge till you unlock the gadget and make sure. Charging nonetheless works, however paperwork, pictures, or some other knowledge keep put except you give express permission.
This can be a step in the appropriate path towards dangers like juice jacking. With the brand new immediate, attackers hit a wall except you actively approve the connection.
You may also modify the habits in Settings. Choices embrace All the time Ask, Ask for New Equipment, Permit Robotically When Unlocked, and All the time Permit.
Ideally, this lowers the chance of an infection or knowledge theft when somebody plugs into what appears like a protected public charging station at an airport or practice station. It won’t outright stop an assault, however it forces you to pause and assume earlier than tapping “Permit” on an unfamiliar accent. And since charging nonetheless works, most customers won’t thoughts selecting “Don’t Permit”.
My one gripe is a giant one: the wording of the immediate. It’s generic and doesn’t make the menace clear. The message “Permit accent to attach” may simply be mistaken as approval for charging, which occurs regardless. Since that is meant as a safety and privateness safeguard, Apple may do a a lot better job of explaining the chance.
If don’t assume juice jacking is an actual drawback, verify the O.MG cable, which is severely indistinguishable from official Apple made ones.
You’ll be able to test it out below Settings > Privateness & Safety > Wired Equipment.
Thanks for studying Safety Chew is a weekly security-focused column on 9to5Mac. Every week, Arin Waichulis delivers insights on knowledge privateness, uncovers vulnerabilities, and sheds gentle on rising threats inside Apple’s huge ecosystem of over 2 billion energetic units.
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