![\"Apple](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761209468_494_960x0.jpg\")
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Change this setting today.<\/p>\n
NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Updated, Oct. 23 with more detail on this serious security flaw with iOS 26.<\/p>\n
If you have an iPhone, you\u2019re likely running iOS 26. But be warned. There\u2019s a dangerous hidden setting buried in your phone that you must change. Apple doesn\u2019t often make mistakes when it comes to security and privacy. But it has done so here. Apple Support is reportedly warning users about the issue, but there is no public information yet. <\/p>\n
We\u2019re talking Apple\u2019s excellent new defense against malicious accessories plugged into your device. While over-the-air, wireless, remote attacks grab headlines, your phone is as likely to be compromised by a cable as a WiFi or cellular connection. <\/p>\n
This is why both Apple<\/a> and Google<\/a> have added time-outs to iPhone and Android phones to return devices to their before first unlock (BFU<\/a>) state to stop forensic software from exfiltrating phone data. And it\u2019s why juice jacking<\/a> is still newsworthy.<\/p>\n Forbes\u2018Crisis Mode\u2019\u2014Has Your iPhone Really Been Hacked?By Zak Doffman<\/a><\/p>\n These so-called \u201cWired Accessories\u201d options can be found in Settings > Privacy & Security > Security. Apple explains that you have the following options:<\/p>\n “Always Ask: approve every accessory manually, every time.Ask for New Accessories: approve new accessories manually the first time they connect.Automatically Allow When Unlocked: approve accessories automatically when they connect to your unlocked iPhone or iPad (default setting).Always Allow: approve all accessories automatically when they connect.”<\/p>\n As you can see, the default setting is to automatically allow new wired\/physical accessories to connect when your iPhone is unlocked. This is dangerous. And so is the worst option of all: to \u201calways allow\u201d connections. Either of the other two are fine \u2014 always ask or ask when connecting any new accessory.<\/p>\n I warned all iPhone users to change this setting<\/a> when iOS 26 was first released. And more such warnings are now being issued (1<\/a>,2<\/a>). TSA<\/a> and others say that juice jacking remains a threat, even as FCC assures otherwise. But irrespective of that, you should be warned before connecting a new accessory to your phone in its unlocked state.<\/p>\n A physical accessory plugged into your iphone is a risk if it is afforded trusted status just because your phone is unlocked. I\u2019m not sure why Apple set the default as it did. But it\u2019s an easy change to make. You should do that now. It takes just a few seconds.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a serious word of caution. Readers have reported a known issue with iOS 26 that may prevent you changing these settings until it\u2019s fixed. It doesn\u2019t affect all phones, but multiple users have reported the issue to me. <\/p>\n Change your Wired Accessory settings now.<\/p>\n Apple iOS 26 \/ @UKZak<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been told that all the options may be greyed out, or you may just see the \u201cAlways Allow\u201d and \u201cAllow When Unlocked\u201d options, neither of which is a good, secure option for your iPhone. Ironically, it\u2019s the two acceptable options that appear broken.<\/p>\n You may be advised to reset your iPhone\u2019s settings to restore the Wired Accessory options ahead of an iOS 26 fix. Whilst this is apparently still in the works, it\u2019s a huge inconvenience to reset your phone. You can leave the settings on their default ahead of the fix, just be wary of plugging anything into you phone whilst it\u2019s unlocked. <\/p>\n There is no general information available on this bug as yet, but I\u2019m told Apple is advising some affected users this will be addressed in the next iOS update. Whether this is the imminent iOS 26.0.2 or the more material iOS 26.1 remains to be seen. <\/p>\n The security flaw has been outed in several threads on Reddit (1<\/a>,2<\/a>), albeit there\u2019s no general awareness of the issue as yet. Reports that Apple is addressing this in an imminent iOS 26 have come directly from Apple Support\u2019s updates to several users.<\/p>\n But as yet, even Apple\u2019s Support appears to have limited information on this flaw. I\u2019ve heard reports of users being walked through a process to check for and disable VPNs, and even a check Screen Time settings to ensure no restrictions are in place.<\/p>\n The issue appears to manifest itself as either all Wired Accessory options being greyed out, or more commonly only the two unsecure options being available with the two better options completely missing from the list.<\/p>\n Clearly, if that\u2019s the case for you, then select \u201cAutomatically Allow When Unlocked,\u201d as that will at least afford you protection from a cable or accessory being plugged into your locked device. The \u201cAlways Allow\u201d option really should be avoided at all times.<\/p>\n