Apple iPhone 17 Introduces Hardware-Level Security to Protect Crypto Wallets

Apple's iPhone 17 debuts Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), a hardware-level security feature targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities. MIE works alongside Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE) to validate memory usage in real time, thwarting zero-day exploits like out-of-bounds writes and use-after-free attacks. Enabled by default, MIE addresses 70% of software flaws rooted in memory corruption.

For crypto investors and high-net-worth individuals, memory safety is critical. Compromised memory can hijack wallet signatures or intercept Passkeys, leading to irreversible fund drains. MIE adds a hardware-backed layer of protection for self-custodied assets. DiscusFish, co-founder of Cobo and F2Pool, hailed the move: "This is a major win for high-net-worth crypto users and frequent signers. MIE strengthens the safety of wallet signing and Passkeys at the hardware level, giving users an added layer of trust."

Apple's timing aligns with recent iOS zero-day threats, including critical ImageIO flaws. The upgrade signals a proactive stance against evolving cybersecurity risks in the crypto space.