iPhone users that can run iOS 16 will no longer have to verify that they're human.
iOS 16 will allegedly solve all Completely Automated Public Turing tests (CAPTCHAs), including those that require you to tap on specific images or decipher squiggly texts, in supported apps and websites, according to MacRumors.
The upcoming iOS update was also previously reported to have SMS filtering and a LiDAR scanner to create 3D floor plans.
iOS 16 CAPTCHA Solving Algorithm Details
iOS 16's new CAPTCHA solving feature is a new option for automatic verification, wherein iCloud will handle CAPTCHA verifications on your behalf if switched on, per XDA Developers.
The operating system can do CAPTCHAs for you thanks to private access tokens (PAT) that help you prove that an HTTP authentication request is coming from a human being - you - instead of a bot.
Apple Insider explains that when the client needs a token, it contacts Apple through iCloud to perform the process of skipping the CAPTCHA using certificates stored in the device's Secure Enclave to get one.
Alternatively, Apple can also perform something called "rate-limiting," which can recognize if the client device (in this case, your phone) follows typical user patterns or is part of an iPhone click farm.
Regardless if Apple uses either of the two methods, a signed token is sent to the server in a multi-step process. During the previously mentioned process, the server won't know about the token coming from or the person accessing it. However, as the server trusts Apple, it will validate the token, allowing you to go to your destination web page without answering a single CAPTCHA test.
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The tokens the device produces are single-way to limit replay attacks, when a client attempts to present one token multiple times.
Apple mentioned that the tokens require a device running iOS 16 or macOS Ventura or later with an Apple ID signed in, which is only used for attestation and isn't shared for privacy purposes.
Cloudflare, another cloud technology provider, stated that when PATs are used, device data is not shared between the parties involved in the process, providing you the privacy you need to access the webpage of your choosing.
However, it seems that iOS users running iOS 6 will need to use Safari and WebKit to skip CAPTCHA tests completely.
Additionally, Apple warns app developers to guarantee user authentication doesn't block the main web page and to present the option of skipping CAPTCHA tests as optional.
iOS 16 Other Details
Aside from skipping CAPTCHA tests, Apple's upcoming iOS update could also have improved APIs that allow third-party apps to identify and notify you about spam calls and texts.
It could also have improved ARKit and related technologies alongside "RoomPlan," a new API that uses LiDAR scanning to create 3D floor layouts quickly. However, RoomPlan isn't a default feature for iOS 16, so app developers need to create apps that bring the API's full features to you.
Lastly, iOS 16 could come with Always On Display, allowing you to view the time, date, notifications, missed calls, and more information even when the screen is turned off.
