iPhone and iPad approved to handle classified NATO information

Following rigorous security testing and extensive evaluation by the German government, iPhone and iPad become the first consumer devices approved for use with classified information in NATO restricted environments

Today, Apple announced iPhone and iPad are the first and only consumer devices in compliance with the information assurance requirements of NATO nations. This enables iPhone and iPad to be used with classified information up to the NATO restricted level without requiring special software or settings — a level of government certification no other consumer mobile device has met.

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I suspect that GrapheneOS fails because the MDM situation is an unfinished story. Additionally, managed iOS/iPadOS devices can be configured to be more secure than non-managed ones.

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Why do you call it problematic? There is a legitimate reason why MDM is not supported on GOS.

This is great news though. Making high security available to the masses easily is why I still like Apple - their continued enshittification elsewhere and closed off and tight control of everything OS related notwithstanding.

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I should’ve been clearer. It’s awful for organizations, not individuals. Organizations need MDM solutions.

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Though I wonder which, iPhone or GrapheneOS is more secure. Someone should do an objective study on this, though I suspect only Apple can answer that question and it won’t be unbiased. Guess we’ll never know.

Is it easy to set up an MDM profile for my iOS devices?

Beat me to this. Got busy and didn’t get around to posting this. I guess iOS and GOS will now be my default going forward.

It’s easy if you own a Mac.

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I might upset some of you but even with MDM, I highly doubt GOS will even be considered at that level.

Personal preferences aside, I don´t think they would use an “alternative” OS developed by individuals. These very high stakes require responsibility. They might recommend it for personal use, but for overall, I don´t see that happening.

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Why not exactly? Given its FOSS nature, you can evaluate GOS better than iOS if transparency for what’s running and how on your device is important to know. And for things like this, it is indeed important to know.

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The US Secretary of Defense was caught at least using Signal instead of something more “secure” developed by the US military-industrial complex.

How?

Because the consultants and the elites aren’t getting paid. We all know Signal works and it’s free.

You can use Apple Configurator.

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To be clear, this means nothing. He’s a TV actor.

Most likely it just is because of the open nature. User can easily install any app from anywhere, including malware.

They could fork it to fix that, but nowadays that would mean delayed security updates.

Signal has received funding from the US government in the past.

Its use is pervasive throughout the intelligence and defense communities. I’ve been using it professionally basically since it launched. There are even official mobile security guides from CISA recommending Signal.

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Probably good enough for some basic things a single person would want to do, but it’s nothing like an MDM.

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Maybe that will change with Motorola’s latest annoucement. Who knows. It surely would be the first request form any sane business.