Everyone, Just so we are all clear, I am posting the following as a news article, only, and not as an invitation to discuss behind-the-scenes beta software code details.
If you are unclear as to the distinction I have set forth, above, please extend the kind courtesy of contacting Cara and me, off-list. Thank you and enjoy the read, Mark iOS 11 'cop button' also helps users w/ Medical ID protect their data if unconscious 9to5Mac - Friday, August 18, 2017 at 11:01 AM iOS 11 'cop button' also helps users w/ Medical ID protect their data if unconscious iOS 11 beta 6 (released earlier this week) includes a new feature to quickly disable Touch ID from the lock screen. Tapping the lock button five times to access the SOS screen or opening a Medical ID will cause the iPhone or iPad to temporarily reject all Touch ID attempts, requiring a passcode to unlock. We have confirmed with sources that this behavior is intentional rather than a bug, as well as some explanation as to why it was added. Whilst in theory it can be used to prevent law enforcement from compelling suspects to unlock their device with fingerprint, it also helps protect people who have fallen unconscious. To try this out for yourself, update to iOS 11 beta 6 and access the Medical ID from the lockscreen. After dismissing the view, you will find that a passcode is required to get back to your home screen. You can also press the lock button five times to open the SOS/Medical ID/Shutdown slider page, which also performs the same Touch ID lockdown. The phone will only accept Touch ID again once a valid passcode has been entered. Although by no means foolproof, the new feature is an added layer of security for the owner's data. If the iPhone owner falls unconscious and a bystander comes over to help, accessing the person's Medical ID will automatically prevent the person from using the unconscious owner's fingerprint to unlock the device against their will. They can access the medical ID to help diagnose what might have caused the incident, but they can no longer unlock the device by placing the person's hand on the Touch ID sensor. Obviously, an intelligent crook could unlock the unconscious person's device before entering the Medical ID or SOS modes but Apple is betting on most people being honest or the feature being enabled before the user loses consciousness. If the device owner is having a seizure, they can activate the SOS screen themselves to call their emergency contact with the knowledge that their device will be secure if they do lose consciousness or control of their body. Similarly, if the first responder is an honest citizen and instantly accesses the Medical ID, the real owner of the phone will be secured if anyone else (such as police at the hospital bedside, for instance) attempts to force access by jamming their finger onto the fingerprint sensor. With the upcoming 'Face ID' in iPhone 8, you can see how the same behavior defends against unconscious unlocks with face biometrics too. The feature may also prevent some people from being forced into giving their data over to law enforcement; five presses of a physical button is faster and easier than attempting to turn off your phone before it is snatched out of your hand. The legal implications are a bit unclear; people have been jailed before for refusing to give their fingerprints. Again, this will help in some situations and not others. Still, your chances are always higher than on a device running iOS 10. iOS 11 should be released to the public sometime next month, alongside the new iPhone launch. Original Article at: https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/18/cop-button-ios-11-beta-6-medical-id-unconscio us/ -- The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: macvisionaries+modera...@googlegroups.com and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
