iOS 12 Includes Setting to Disable USB Access When an iPhone Hasn't Been Unlocked for More Than an Hour

In iOS 12, there's a new setting that will effectively put an end to law enforcement access to iPhones and iPads using USB devices like the GrayKey box, preventing USB accessories from connecting when it's been more than an hour since the iPhone was last unlocked.

Located under Touch ID & Passcode, the new setting, which requires a passcode to be entered to allow a USB accessory to connect after an hour, is enabled by default.

ios12usbaccessoriessetting
You can toggle off the setting to allow USB accessories to connect at any time, but most users are likely going to leave this set to the default setting as there's not a whole lot of benefit to turning it off. With this turned on, you'll need to enter your passcode for a data connection to the iPhone using a USB device, such as when you connect it to iTunes on a computer, but charging via the Lightning port will continue to work fine.

The new setting is of interest because it's an expansion of USB Restricted Mode, a feature Apple toyed with during the iOS 11.4 beta. USB Restricted Mode was designed to disable USB access to the Lightning Connector after 7 days, but iOS 12 cuts that time period way, way down.

Law enforcement officials use USB access to an iPhone or an iPad to connect accessories like the GrayKey box, a tool that plugs into the Lightning port of an iPhone and uses the data connection in an attempt to brute force a passcode.

With the new setting, an iPhone's Lightning port data connection will not work with the GrayKey box if it's been more than an hour since a passcode was entered, rendering it effectively useless unless used immediately after an iPhone is obtained from a suspect.

Law enforcement officials are likely going to be unhappy with the changes Apple is making in iOS 12 because it's going to make iOS 12 devices a lot harder to get into, but from a customer point of view, this setting offers protection from hackers and other bad actors who may be able to get ahold of this kind of technology.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Related Forum: iOS 12

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Top Rated Comments

Khedron Avatar
91 months ago
In before that guy who's been professionally cracking iOS for a decade tells us he already knows how to bypass this setting.
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Heckles Avatar
91 months ago
This is just awesome! I’m glad it’s an hour and not a week.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Heckles Avatar
91 months ago
what are you hiding?
i just had a 4 digit pin lol
Banking info, emails, contacts of friends and family, photos, personal info, and more. No one needs to see this info unless I let them. Period.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justiny Avatar
91 months ago
I’m perfectly fine with law enforcement officials being unhappy about this.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Robert.Walter Avatar
91 months ago
Should also be triggered when a phone is put into SOS mode and whenever TouchID/FaceID is disabled.

If it’s not doing that, that would seem to be an oversight.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jermwhl Avatar
91 months ago
Good - **** the police
I was wondering why this was listed under "political, religious, and social issues". I guess this is why, lol.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)