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New Apple security feature reboots iPhones after 3 days, researchers confirm

(techcrunch.com)
286 points joegibbs | 9 comments | 15 Nov 24 01:55 UTC | HN request time: 0.007s | source | bottom
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arcticbull ◴[15 Nov 24 03:08 UTC] No.42143642[source]▶
Periodic reboots are actually a PCI requirement for payment terminals heh, basically every point of sale on the market reboots every 24h.
replies(5): >>42143696 #>>42143718 #>>42143892 #>>42144077 #>>42144547 #
Gigachad ◴[15 Nov 24 03:21 UTC] No.42143696[source]▶
Seems like a good defence in depth strategy. These days most systems have a pretty good boot chain security, so after a reboot you know the system is in a valid state and any potential malicious changes have been flushed out.
replies(5): >>42144335 #>>42144436 #>>42144554 #>>42144910 #>>42147261 #
bugtodiffer ◴[15 Nov 24 08:24 UTC] No.42144910[source]▶
This is so damn sad. I don't fully get why I have to reboot after kernel updates but accept it, but just every 3 days? Why?
replies(2): >>42145164 #>>42145453 #
1. teekert ◴[15 Nov 24 09:09 UTC] No.42145164[source]▶
Read. It's only when you don't touch it for 3 days. And I bet if you didn't even touch it for 3 days you won't even notice if it has rebooted or not.
replies(1): >>42145414 #
2. TeMPOraL ◴[15 Nov 24 09:57 UTC] No.42145414[source]▶
Sure they would. If the system was for interactive use, it likely requires some login or unlock password. If the system is supposed to respond to external events - such as receiving phone calls when the system in question is a phone - then a reboot will effectively disable it until the user notices.
replies(3): >>42145561 #>>42145659 #>>42145731 #
3. exe34 ◴[15 Nov 24 10:26 UTC] No.42145561[source]▶
> receiving phone calls

don't be ridiculous, it's a _smart_ phone.

4. 42lux ◴[15 Nov 24 10:44 UTC] No.42145659[source]▶
Only if you still use a sim pin otherwise the phone would only be unavailable for the duration of the reboot.
5. BrandoElFollito ◴[15 Nov 24 10:55 UTC] No.42145731[source]▶
No it won't. My phone is completely operational after a reboot.
replies(1): >>42147343 #
6. ben_w ◴[15 Nov 24 14:43 UTC] No.42147343{3}[source]▶
Yours might. My SIM, however, automatically locks on reboot. It came like that.
replies(1): >>42147449 #
7. BrandoElFollito ◴[15 Nov 24 14:55 UTC] No.42147449{4}[source]▶
All the phones I have used were like this (Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Redmi, Oppo - across years and years of models).

I am surprised you write that the SIM is locked upon reboot. What does this mean in technical terms? Do you mean that you have to enter the SIM PIN when your phone reboots?

replies(1): >>42147556 #
8. ben_w ◴[15 Nov 24 15:06 UTC] No.42147556{5}[source]▶
> Do you mean that you have to enter the SIM PIN when your phone reboots?

Yes.

I can cancel the popup and then still use the rest of the phone, but when I do that I have no cellular network access until I unlock the SIM itself.

For the avoidance of confusion, the SIM PIN is independent of the phone PIN.

replies(1): >>42147617 #
9. BrandoElFollito ◴[15 Nov 24 15:13 UTC] No.42147617{6}[source]▶
Ah, this is the normal behaviour of a SIM card. You can disable this PIN at startup (a setting in the phone). This is not recommendable, though, because if your phone gets lost or stolen your SIM may be used in a "layer" (a device that will make premium calls or SMS, the name is derived from a hen (that lays eggs)).

The solution is to use an eSIM - you can disable the PIN at bootup because it is protected by the phone lock anyway and will be operational immediately.