Apple's latest defense against iPhone hacks: shut down the Lightning port

Apple is doubling down on your security. 

The company has seeded the fourth beta of its upcoming iOS 11.4 update to developers, and it contains an intriguing new feature called "USB Restricted Mode."

The feature, spotted by ElcomSoft, will restrict your phone's Lightning port so it can be used only for charging if the device isn't unlocked, or connected to a paired and "trusted" computer. The feature will automatically disable the port's data connection if you haven't used it in a week. The developer notes make this clear:

USB Restricted Mode won't prevent hackers or law enforcement from accessing your phone's data through the lightning port, but it will severely limit the time they have to do so.  Read more...