Apple Just Made Plugging In Your iPhone Safer

There is a hidden feature in iOS 26. The security feature now includes a new permission settings feature for wired accessories, and could be one of the most practical defences Apple has ever added.

Now, when you plug into a wired accessory, IOS 26 will ask to “Allow” or “Don’t Allow” data transfer. When you tap “Don’t Allow,” the device will only charge; no data flow will happen, but when you tap “Allow,” the accessory will communicate with the iPhone. Also, if the phone is locked, no data transfer will happen until the iPhone is unlocked and the request is approved.

Why this security feature matters is that it will protect against juice jacking and malicious charging stations. It will make sure that the default behavior charging still works, while minimizing inconvenience. Users can configure this feature's options in Settings, Privacy & Security, and lastly Wired Accessories.

Keep in mind that this feature will not protect against all attacks, but it will force users’ awareness. The hard thing with this feature is that normal people might not understand the vague wording of the prompt and just tap allow without thinking! “Allow accessory to connect” could confuse users into thinking it’s just for charging.

Overall, this feature raises the bar for iPhone security in everyday usage. It is a practical safeguard for over 2 billion active devices, and the important thing is to remain cautious since threats like justice jacking remain.

Do you think this new permission setting will actually stop real-world attacks? Have you ever worried about plugging your iPhone into a public charging station? Let us know in the comments!

Images from Apple