jiska 🦄:fairydust:

How does the new iOS inactivity reboot work? What does it protect from?

I reverse engineered the kernel extension and the secure enclave processor, where this feature is implemented.

naehrdine.blogspot.com/2024/11

Observing inactivity reboot on camera
2 replies →
2 replies

Albrecht

(replying to jiska 🦄:fairydust:)

@jiska „iPhones on iOS 18 will tell other iPhones on lower iOS versions to reboot – wirelessly!“ 🤯 I’m really curious about whether this is true and how it works. Definitely sounds crazy. I bet you‘re already looking into that as well.

Sören

(replying to Albrecht)

@albrecht @jiska this is likely untrue; however, iPhones *can* now wirelessly receive a command to install a software update.

Abdelkader Boui

(replying to Sören)

@chucker Which command are you referring to? iPhones and iPads enrolled in MDMs have had that option for ages. @albrecht @jiska

jiska 🦄:fairydust:

(replying to Abdelkader Boui)

@abdelkader_boui @chucker @albrecht there have been some rumors about a feature allowing Apple to wirelessly update iPhones in original packaging. Maybe that's the reference?

However, the update process might only work after authentication and for sure requires a validly signed iOS software image. Also, that feature might be blocked after first setup.

Warren Gallagher

(replying to jiska 🦄:fairydust:)

@jiska Does this apply to iPad as well?

jiska 🦄:fairydust:

(replying to Warren Gallagher)

@WarrenGallagher haven't tried it myself but according to someone else in a chat, iPads on iPadOS 18.0 and newer also have inactivity reboot.

jiska 🦄:fairydust:

(replying to jiska 🦄:fairydust:)

Thank you for all the questions on iOS inactivity reboot!

I added answers to the most common questions at the end of my blog post.

Saagar Jha

(replying to jiska 🦄:fairydust:)
@jiska wen eta?

jiska 🦄:fairydust:

(replying to Saagar Jha)

@saagar son