How Apples New iOS Could Give You Better Data Security

How Apple's New iOS Could Give You Better Data Security

The iOS 11 has been in beta testing for a few weeks now and many users are reporting a new discovered security feature that could boost a user's data security and make it harder for police to find information.

  • Sep 12, 2017

Techies, consumers and iPhone haters alike will all be on the edges of their seats today as Apple makes it's newest set of announcements concerning iOS 11, the iPhone 8 and many more innovations.

The iOS 11 has been in beta testing for a few weeks now and many users are reporting a new discovered security feature that could boost a user's data security and make it harder for police to find information.

Apple has added a requirement that forces iPhone users to use both a fingerprint and their device passcode to establish a "trusting" relationship with computers on which they want to backup their devices. The feature, which was discovered by security firm Elcosoft, means there is an additional step for users to access a backup - and an additional step for law enforcement to do the same.

Law enforcement has been long frustration by their inability to access the data on suspects' phones due to the high amount of security already protecting the device. For example, a user can enable a passcode or fingerprint scan to access the phone's information. If the phone has been turned off for some time, it could require both.

Apple's decision to add the passcode requirement to backups might seem like a small security upgrade for users to ensure their data is protected, but it might also prove to be an additional barrier between evidence in a case for police as iPhone data without a fingerprint and passcode will remain encrypted.

It's unclear exactly why Apple made the change and how law enforcement might respond to it. However,  reports say that Apple is planning to drop the fingerprint sensor in a device it could launch this year called the iPhone X, the company might have felt it had no other option but to add passcode support to backups. 

Featured

  • AI Is Now the Leading Cybersecurity Concern for Security, IT Leaders

    Arctic Wolf recently published findings from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering insights from a global survey of more than 1,200 senior IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across 15 countries. Conducted by Sapio Research, the report captures the realities, risks, and readiness strategies shaping the modern security landscape. Read Now

  • Analysis of AI Tools Shows 85 Percent Have Been Breached

    AI tools are becoming essential to modern work, but their fast, unmonitored adoption is creating a new kind of security risk. Recent surveys reveal a clear trend – employees are rapidly adopting consumer-facing AI tools without employer approval, IT oversight, or any clear security policies. According to Cybernews Business Digital Index, nearly 90% of analyzed AI tools have been exposed to data breaches, putting businesses at severe risk. Read Now

  • Software Vulnerabilities Surged 61 Percent in 2024, According to New Report

    Action1, a provider of autonomous endpoint management (AEM) solutions, today released its 2025 Software Vulnerability Ratings Report, revealing a 61% year-over-year surge in discovered software vulnerabilities and a 96% spike in exploited vulnerabilities throughout 2024, amid an increasingly aggressive threat landscape. Read Now

  • Motorola Solutions Named Official Safety Technology Supplier of the Ryder Cup through 2027

    Motorola Solutions has today been named the Official Safety Technology Supplier of the 2025 and 2027 Ryder Cup, professional golf’s renowned biennial team competition between the United States and Europe. Read Now

  • Evolving Cybersecurity Strategies

    Organizations are increasingly turning their attention to human-focused security approaches, as two out of three (68%) cybersecurity incidents involve people. Threat actors are shifting from targeting networks and systems to hacking humans via social engineering methods, living off human errors as their most prevalent attack vector. Whether manipulated or not, human cyber behavior is leveraged to gain backdoor access into systems. This mainly results from a lack of employee training and awareness about evolving attack techniques employed by malign actors. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.