Apple releases iOS 11.4.1 with USB restricted mode

Today, Apple has released iOS 11.4.1 for iPhones and iPads – a small update that fixes some bugs and introduces a new security feature. This is the fifteenth update since iOS 11 released last September. It is available on the same devices as iOS 11.4 – the iPhone 5S and later, the iPad Air and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, and the iPod touch 2015

Users will see when they go to the application Update settings of their phones are as follows:

iOS 11.4.1 includes bug fixes and enhances the security of your iPhone or iPad. This update:

• Fixes a problem that prevented some users from seeing the last known location of their AirPods in Find My iPhone
• Improves the reliability of synchronizing mail, contacts, and notes with Exchange accounts [19659008] The version also includes security updates. However, Apple has not released the details on its security page at the time of this publication, but expects them to appear soon. Significant but not listed: USB Restricted Mode, a change originally included in the iOS 12 beta that makes it more difficult for anyone, including authorities, to break through the iPhone via Lightning port.

  You will now find a toggle switch labeled "USB Accessories" in the Touch ID & Access Code section of the Settings application titled "USB Accessories". This is disabled by default. A legend explains:

  Unlock the iPhone to allow USB accessories to connect when more than an hour has elapsed since unlocking your iPhone

  At first we thought we had wait for iOS 12 this fall to see this feature, but here it is.

  Apple also released minor updates for Apple Watch, Apple TV and HomePod-watchOS 4.3.2, tvOS 11.4.1, and HomePod 10.4.1. These are also small updates. The watchOS update notes simply state that 4.3.2 "includes improvements and bug fixes." No update notes have been provided for tvOS 11.4.1, but it probably includes small performance improvements and bug fixes. Finally, the HomePod update "includes general improvements for stability and quality."

  According to the latest Apple update cycles, it is possible that these are the latest updates to these operating systems. Sometimes the company focuses on the next major release (in this case, iOS 12) in the summer. These versions should arrive this fall.