After updating to iOS 18, you cannot turn on web protection, ad blocking, and other protection features in the Mobile Security app.
How this issue affects you
After updating your device to iOS 18 or requiring Mobile Security to use Face ID to open, you can't enable Web Protection, Ad Blocking, and Safari Protection while following the steps in Manage Mobile Security settings on iOS devices. When you go to settings, "Malwarebytes" does not appear as an option when enabling the required system extensions.
What caused this issue
iOS 18 includes a new feature that allows you to hide or lock an app by having the app require Face ID to open. If the Mobile Security app is hidden or locked, the app's extension permissions are also hidden in your device's settings. Since the permissions are hidden, you are unable to allow them to turn on Web Protection, Ad Blocking, and Safari Protection.
How to resolve this issue
To enable protection features, you need to turn off the Face ID requirement for the Mobile Security app:
- On your iOS device, press and hold the Mobile Security app.
- In the pop-up, tap Don't require Face ID.
- Open the app and turn on the protection features. For more detailed instructions, see Manage Mobile Security settings on iOS devices.