Google is upgrading Android with a security feature to better protect phones from attack. The new Advanced Protection Mode comes with Android 16, and will block dangerous downloads, unsafe wired and wireless connections, and risky browsing. As it makes headlines, iPhone users will be asking whether they should have the same.
Apple users already do have a similar option. Similar, but definitely not the same. Lockdown Mode turned up with iOS 16 and from the start was recommended only for those who thought themselves at increased risk of attack and really needed the update.
Apple itself says “Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people will never be targeted by attacks of this nature.”
This is a very different level of device restriction to Android’s new update. Apple warns “when Lockdown Mode is enabled, your device won’t function like it usually would. To reduce the attack surface that could potentially be exploited by highly targeted mercenary spyware, certain apps, websites and features will be strictly limited for security, and some experiences may not be available at all.”
In reality, Google’s new feature is aimed to narrow the gap to iPhone, rather than set a new bar for iPhone users to follow. In previewing the update, Android Authority explained “it’s fantastic that Google is adding such safety measures for users in Android 16. One of the arguments that Apple users always brought up was how Android isn’t as secure as iOS — this is a step in the right direction for Android’s security.”
Enabling Android’s Advanced Protection Mode will hamper some functionality — especially app installs from outside Google’s Play Store and some browsing restrictions, but it’s not extreme and the lockdowns make sense.
By contrast, Apple’s Lockdown Mode does the following:
- “Messages – most message attachment types will be blocked, other than certain images, video and audio. Some features, such as links and link previews, will be unavailable.
- Web browsing – certain complex web technologies will be blocked, which may cause some websites to load more slowly or to not operate correctly. In addition, web fonts may not be displayed, and images may be replaced with a missing image icon.
- FaceTime – Incoming FaceTime calls are blocked unless you have previously called that person or contact within the past 30 days. Features such as SharePlay and Live Photos are unavailable.
- Apple services – incoming invitations for Apple services, such as invitations to manage a home in the Home app, are blocked unless you have invited that person previously. Focus and any related status will not work as expected. Game Center is also disabled.
- Photos – when you share photos, location information is excluded. Shared albums are removed from the Photos app, and new Shared Album invitations are blocked. You can still view these shared albums on other devices that haven’t enabled Lockdown Mode.
- Device connections – to connect your iPhone or iPad to an accessory or another computer, the device needs to be unlocked. To connect your Mac laptop with Apple silicon to an accessory, your Mac needs to be unlocked and you need to provide explicit approval.
- Wireless connectivity – your device won’t automatically join non-secure Wi-Fi networks and will disconnect from a non-secure Wi-Fi network when you turn on Lockdown Mode. 2G mobile support is turned off.
- Configuration profiles – configuration profiles can’t be installed, and the device can’t be enrolled in Mobile Device Management or device supervision while in Lockdown Mode.”
In short, if you’re an Android user I would recommend the new Advanced Protection Mode when it’s available. But unless you know you need it, Apple’s Lockdown Mode is not the same and for almost all users is a step way too far. You won’t like it.
