Apple iOS 18 Cheat Sheet: Release Date, RCS Integration and More

iOS 18 has introduced several security measures to enhance app privacy and data protection. Some of the notable features include:

1. Lock and Hide Apps: iOS 18 allows users to lock or hide any application on the home screen. The app will remain hidden everywhere except for an area in Settings and a hidden apps folder, which both require Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode to open. This feature helps safeguard sensitive content from accidental exposure when sharing devices or showing screens to others.

2. Contacts Permission Improvements: Apple has added the ability to pick and choose which contacts to share with an app. Previously, a user only had two options: giving an app full access to all their contacts or not. Now, users can select specific contacts they want to share with a particular app.

3. Private Cloud Compute: Apple Intelligence (AI) is Apple's entry into the artificial intelligence (AI) trend. When a user makes a request, Apple Intelligence analyzes whether it can be processed on the device. If it needs greater computational capacity, it can draw on Private Cloud Compute, which will send only the data relevant to the task to be processed on Apple silicon servers. When requests are routed to Private Cloud Compute, data is not stored or made accessible to Apple, and is only used to fulfill the user's request6.

4. Passwords App: In iOS 18, passwords have a dedicated app called Passwords. This app makes it easy for users to access account passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and two-factor authentication codes stored securely in Keychain. The app also includes alerts for users regarding common weaknesses, such as passwords that can be easily guessed, have been used multiple times, or have appeared in known data leaks.

5. Lockdown Mode: Lockdown Mode expands to provide even more protections for those who may be targeted by mercenary spyware because of who they are or what they do. New protections encompass safer wireless connectivity defaults, media handling, media sharing defaults, sandboxing, and network security optimizations. Turning on Lockdown Mode further hardens device defenses and strictly limits certain functionalities, sharply reducing the attack surface for those who need additional protections.

These features demonstrate Apple's commitment to providing users with stronger privacy and security measures, helping them maintain control over their information and data.

The new Messages via Satellite feature allows iPhone users to send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS even when they lack a traditional internet connection3. This feature is supported on iPhone 14 and later models updated to iOS 18. The feature builds on the existing Emergency SOS via satellite functionality of these iPhones, enabling users to connect to a satellite instead of a cellular network to send messages to their contacts.