Upon completion of the WWDC conference earlier this month, Apple released a preview of iOS 10 for developers. Unlike previous versions of the platform, it included a great surprise: an unencrypted kernel.
For those who do not know, we refer to the operating system kernel, which controls how applications can use the hardware components of a device and applies various security protocols.
Leaving the kernel uncovered does not mean that iOS 10 will be prone to attacks. Instead, Apple's new approach leaves more room for researchers to find ways to make the kernel safer.
So at first everyone thought it was a big mistake on the part of the company, Apple issued a statement saying that this move was advisable:
"By decrypting (the kernel) we will be able to optimize the performance of the operating system without compromising security."
Apple did not specify how the event could improve performance, but there is a clear benefit to decrypting the kernel: iOS friends will be able to discover errors and report them to the company before the final version is released and installed in millions Appliances.
MIT's Technology Review says this approach could help closing more security flaws in Apple's software and make it more difficult for government agencies to gain unauthorized access to the company's devices, as they did in the case of the San Bernardino iPhone .
However, Apple will well be giving extra incentives to developers to report bugs by launching a bug bounty program. Opponents of Google and Microsoft already have similar initiatives. As Apple seems to have decided to get into the game as well.
Here, we should mention that the opening of the iOS kernel will probably upset jailbreakers as the species is expected to disappear.
