'Lockdown Mode' is a security measure to effectively repel spyware attacks

Enabling 'Lockdown Mode' results in blocking of message attachment types

Functionalities, including link previews, will be disabled as security measure

Apple recently alerted Indian lawmakers, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, about potential hacking attempts on their iPhones.

To counter these threats, the tech giant advised activating the ‘Lockdown Mode,’ a security measure designed to effectively repel such intrusive attacks.

Enabling ‘Lockdown Mode’ results in the blocking of various message attachment types, excluding images. Additionally, certain functionalities, including link previews, are disabled as an added security measure.

It’s essential to highlight that state-sponsored spy agencies have previously utilized the Pegasus spyware, employing phishing techniques to infiltrate iPhones. The modus operandi involved sending text messages containing compromised URLs to the targeted individuals’ Messages app inboxes.

Once infected, Pegasus is capable of eavesdropping on conversations through the device’s microphone or camera. It can continuously track the user’s live GPS location and employ keystroke logging to monitor all text messages or emails typed post-infection.

Moreover, it can record phone calls, access personal data such as passwords and contacts, and even harvest personally identifiable biometric information. Advanced versions of Pegasus can circumvent two-factor authentication and access data stored in linked cloud accounts.

Fortunately, the implementation of the Lockdown Mode prevents the spyware from accessing any data on iPhones, iPads, or Macs, thus safeguarding the devices from potential breaches in the future.