I’m sure that you carry a lot of data with you on your iPhone, personal data that you wouldn’t want other people to have access to. While iOS is great for keeping your data safe, it’s a good idea every now and then to make sure everything is safe and secure.
There is no better time to do this than now!
Must Read: Essential technological gadgets to start 2021 the right way
Strong password
Biometric access using your face or fingerprint is secure and convenient, but only a strong password can keep your data secure.
It doesn’t matter if you use Touch ID or Face ID, you still need a password, and the stronger it is, the more you can use it – and remember! — the best. It is really the cornerstone of your security. If it falls into the hands of someone, they have their iPhone and their data.
Remember, even if you use biometrics to access your iPhone, the password will still be there as a backup, so use it safely. I also recommend changing it every few months for added security against shoulder surfers.
Go to settings > Facial ID and password (or Touch ID and password on older iPhones with the Touch ID button), enter your existing password and tap Password options (or Change password if you have already set it) for a set of options.
Choose between Custom Alphanumeric Code (the safest) or Custom Numeric Code (second best option). I do not recommend 4 Digit Numeric Code because it’s easy for surfers to see your PIN code (sometimes it’s also obvious which four numbers are in use because of the position of the fatty fingerprints on the screen).
While you’re here, scroll down to Delete Dice and make sure it is enabled.
After 10 attempts (at the end, there will be a timer-based lock to slow the entry process, preventing the pranksters from destroying your data), the encryption key will be deleted and your data permanently and securely deleted.
Use a password manager
The cornerstone of all good security is having good passwords.
IOS has an automatic password completion feature using the integrated iCloud Keychain or third-party password managers, such as LastPass, Dashlane and 1Password.
You can find this feature at settings > Passwords > Autofill passwords.
Besides that: Best password managers in 2021
Enable two-factor authentication for your iCloud account
One of the best ways to protect your data is to configure and use two-factor authentication. This means that even if an attacker has your iCloud username and password, Apple will send an authentication code to a device of your choice, which should block most attacks.
Go to settings > and touch your name at the top of the screen and go to Password and security, then choose Two-factor authentication.
Make sure your iPhone is locking up quickly
The shorter you set the lock screen timeout setting (there are options that range from 30 seconds to never), the sooner the iPhone will require authentication to access it. Sure, it can be a little bit accelerated, but the face ID and touch ID are very fast and smooth.
This is also a good way to save battery.
You can change the automatic lockout time by going to settings > Screen and brightness > Automatic blocking.
I have mine set for 30 seconds.
Use Find My
This is a useful feature to use if you are concerned about the theft of your device or if you are the type of person who loses things. In these situations, every second counts.
To activate it, go to settings and then tap your name at the top of the screen and go to Meet My > Find my iphone.
From here, you can also check the Send last location feature, which sends your device’s location to Apple when the battery is low, allowing you to find it even when the battery is low, and Find my network, which helps you find your iPhone, even if it’s offline.
Don’t give apps your precise location
You now have the option of allowing apps to access your general location, but not your precise location. It’s good to have the option of using location data without providing an exact location.
It makes sense for some apps to have their precise location – mapping and navigation, for example, and the Tile app that tracks my stuff – but for other apps, it may not make sense, and for them, you can tell iOS to provide data from location a little more vague.
To access this configuration, go to Settings> Privacy> Location services and then check the permissions of the apps that have access to your location.
Control how much data your locked iPhone can leak
Control how much – or how little – you want to be accessible on a locked device.
iOS gives you control over the following:
- Today View
- Notification Center
- Control Center
- Crab
- Reply with message
- Home control
- Wallet
- Return missed call
- USB Accessories
The bottom line is that the more you lock, the more secure your device and data will be. The flip side is that the more you block it, the more often you have to unlock your device to see what’s going on.
The USB Accessory feature is especially useful because it prevents the Lightning port from being used to connect to any accessory if your iPhone or iPad has been locked for more than an hour.
Go to settings > Facial ID and password (or Touch ID and password on iPhones with Touch ID), enter your existing password and scroll to the bottom of the page to control it.
It’s also a good idea to protect notifications. While it is very convenient to have information displayed on the lock screen, remember that this is available to everyone, so you can block what is displayed.
To do this go to settings > Notifications > Show previews and change the setting to When unlocked or Never.
Don’t give apps access to all of your photos
Photos can be incredibly personal, and now you can choose not to give apps access to all – or any – of your photos.
When an application first requests access to your photos, you have the option to block access, grant full access or access to selected photos.
And if you change your mind, you can go to Settings> Privacy> Photos and make changes there. It may be a good idea to check what permissions you have granted to existing applications and whether you want to make any adjustments.
Prevent your iPhone from being tracked over Wi-Fi networks
Your iPhone can now send a fake MAC address to Wi-Fi routers, which prevents your device from being tracked when using network connections.
This feature is enabled by default and you can find it by visiting Settings> Wi-Fi and click on the “i” in a circle next to the network.
Note that while this works well on most networks, it can cause problems. For example, some smart grids are designed to send a notification when a new device is connected. It can also tamper with parental controls or corporate / corporate networks where permissions are assigned based on the MAC address (it is not recommended to use the MAC address for authentication, but it does).
If you have problems with certain Wi-Fi networks, you may need to disable this feature.
Use hardware authentication
I strongly believe in using hardware authentication, so I recommend using something like Yubico Yubikey.
Take one and use it.
Install a security application
I’ve been using iVerify for a few months now and it offers smart suggestions for securing iOS.
What is that green / orange dot at the top of the screen?
A green dot appears when the camera is accessed (similar to the green LED that lights up on Macs when the camera is on) and an orange dot for access to the microphone. It is a useful indicator for applications with inappropriate behavior.
Not sure which application is connecting the camera or microphone? Go to the Control Center and you will see a notice at the top showing the most recent app that accessed the camera or microphone.
Use a VPN, especially if you use free Wi-Fi
Do you spend a lot of time using free Wi-Fi when you’re away from home? If you do, then you really need a VPN.
Watch: Best VPNs of 2021
A VPN (virtual private network) allows you to create a secure connection between your device and the VPN service provider’s server, allowing you to browse the web safely and without others being able to spy on what you are doing.
There are many VPN providers out there to choose from, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, my choice is F-Secure’s Freedome VPN.