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Apple has unveiled a significant upgrade to crypto wallets security with the launch of its iPhone 17, aimed at protecting frequent crypto users from advanced cyberattacks. At the heart of the new security suite is Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE), a system-level safeguard designed to block zero-day exploits that often target crypto wallets and Passkey signing operations.
According to Apple, MIE leverages Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE)-style memory tagging to detect and block dangerous memory access attempts, such as out-of-bounds and use-after-free errors. These vulnerabilities, which account for nearly 70% of modern software flaws, have long been exploited by attackers to hijack digital signing processes and compromise crypto wallets security.
“Apple’s new approach meaningfully raises the bar for attackers,” — Hacken, blockchain security firm, in a statement to Cointelegraph.
The MIE system operates at both the kernel and user level, ensuring that exploit chains used to bypass iOS defenses are actively monitored and blocked. For crypto wallets security, this means attackers face higher costs and greater technical barriers when attempting to develop spyware or zero-click malware tailored to Apple devices.
“It raises the bar for attackers and makes targeted spyware development much harder and more expensive,” — Hacken, cybersecurity firm.
Apple has emphasized that the feature is always on, reducing the reliance on manual updates or user settings. For crypto investors, this integrated protection improves confidence when using wallet apps or Passkey flows that depend on in-process signing operations.
Despite the leap forward in crypto wallets security, experts caution that MIE is not a cure-all. The system cannot defend against phishing attempts, malicious websites, or compromised apps. Nor does it replace the protections offered by hardware wallets.
“Security improvements reduce overall risk but don’t make devices invulnerable,” — Hacken.
This underscores the need for user vigilance. Even as Apple boosts protections, crypto investors remain at risk from social engineering and app-based attacks that exploit user trust rather than system flaws.
The emphasis on crypto wallets security follows a wave of recent threats targeting Apple users. In August, researchers uncovered a zero-click vulnerability affecting iPhones, iPads, and Macs, allowing attackers to compromise devices without any user interaction. Apple responded by rolling out emergency security patches across multiple operating systems.
Earlier in the year, cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported that malicious software development kits in apps on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store were scanning photo galleries for crypto wallet recovery phrases. In 2024, Trust Wallet also advised users to disable iMessage after credible reports of a high-risk zero-day exploit circulating on the Dark Web.
With crypto assets increasingly targeted by sophisticated cybercriminals, the focus on crypto wallets security has become a defining issue for both device manufacturers and investors. Apple’s iPhone 17 upgrade, while not a final solution, signals a step toward making mobile-based digital asset management safer.
