Apple has quietly added a new security feature to iOS 18.1 that automatically reboots iPhones if they haven’t been unlocked for a certain period, which makes it harder for anyone to access the phone’s data.
This change, known as an “inactivity reboot,” essentially resets the phone to a highly secure state, enhancing protection against unauthorized access.
According to experts, this new feature is causing issues for U.S. law enforcement, who report that iPhones stored for examination are suddenly rebooting, according to 404 Media.
Initially, officials were confused by this, unsure why they couldn’t access data. However, Dr.-Ing. Jiska Classen, a security researcher at the Hasso Plattner Institute, confirmed the existence of this feature, sharing screenshots of the relevant code.
Christopher Vance, a forensic expert at Magnet Forensics, explained in a private chat group that this reboot is triggered by a timer, moving the phone from an “AFU” (After First Unlock) state, which is easier for forensics tools to access, back to a “BFU” (Before First Unlock) state, which is much harder to crack. He warned other law enforcement members to collect data from AFU devices quickly when working with iOS 18.
While police departments are frustrated with this feature, Matthew Green, a cryptographer and professor at Johns Hopkins, supports the change, saying it’s a “huge improvement in terms of security” for users. He noted that this feature prevents thieves from holding on to stolen devices long-term, hoping to break into them.
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