Apple Enables USB Restricted Mode by Default in iOS 11.4.1

Today, Apple released iOS 11.4.1 which fixes a couple of bugs and introduces a new security feature: USB Restricted Mode.

Apple has added protections against USB devices being used by law enforcement and other hackers to crack an iPhone’s passcode and evade Apple’s usual encryption safeguards. If you go to Settings and check under Face ID & Passcode, you’ll see a new toggle for USB Accessories.

The toggle is off by default, which means that once your iOS device has been locked for more than an hour, the operating system will no longer allow USB access to connect to the device. If you have accessories that you want to continue working after your iPhone has been sitting locked, you can actually toggle the option on to remove the one hour limit.

Apple continues to focus its efforts on increasing security and user privacy, but this might put them at odds with law enforcement and other government authorities who may want to access this information.

Aside from this, iOS 11.4.1 includes bug fixes for the Find My AirPods feature and syncing with Exchange accounts.