iPhone and iPad running iOS 26 can now handle restricted NATO information without special software, though security experts warn consumer devices create new attack surfaces.

Apple announced Thursday that iPhone and iPad became the first consumer mobile devices approved to handle classified NATO information up to the restricted level, following extensive security testing by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security.

The certification enables NATO personnel across all member nations to use standard iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 devices for restricted data without requiring specialized software, containerization or additional security layers—a milestone no other consumer device manufacturer ...