iOS 18 introduces a new security feature that reboots iPhones locked for more than four days, making it harder for law enforcement to access data. The reboot puts devices into a “Before First Unlock” (BFU) state, requiring a passcode to unlock and limiting forensic data extraction. First reported by 404 Media, this feature appears in iOS 18.1 and is part of Apple’s ongoing efforts to enhance device security, despite tensions with law enforcement over encryption backdoors.
A new iOS 18 security feature makes it harder for police to unlock iPhones
