The iPhone's security system caught the world's attention after the terrorist attack in San Bernadino in 2016. Apple refused to provide assistance to the FBI in unlocking the suspect's iPhone 5C due to concerns that it would violate the user's privacy rights. But the iOS system was finally successfully hacked by the Israeli firm Cellebrite. But according to a report by 404 Media, the process of breaking through the iPhone's security system is now difficult again if it uses iOS 18.
A note circulated among US authorities warned that devices with iOS 18 to be investigated should be separated from other devices with the same operating system. Authorities hypothesized that when it detects a nearby iOS 18 device that is not connected to a cellular network, it will instruct it to reboot.
When this happens, the iPhone will enter Before First Unlock (BFU) mode which requires the owner to enter a password or use Face ID before it enters After First Unlock (AFU) mode. A device in AFU mode is needed to facilitate security bypass systems such as Celebrite can be used to unlock and then read the contents of the phone being investigated as evidence by the police for example.
This instruction to reboot will be given once every 24 hours by nearby iOS 18 devices. It does not affect iPhones running earlier operating systems. In the same report, devices placed in Faraday cages are also not immune to this new system.
Apple has never officially announced the existence of this security system and has not yet released a comment about it at this point.