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I’m sure you carry a lot of data with you on your iPhone, personal data that you wouldn’t want others to have access to. While iOS is great at protecting your data, it’s a good idea to take the time to verify that everything is good and secure.
There is no better time to do it than now!
Must read: Essential tech gadgets to start 2021 the right way
Strong secret code
Biometric access using your face or fingerprint is both secure and convenient, but only a strong password can protect your data.
Whether you use Touch ID or Face ID, you always need a password, and the stronger the password you can use – and remember! — the best. It really is the cornerstone of your security. If it falls into someone’s hands, they own your iPhone and its data.
Remember, even though you are using biometrics to access your iPhone, the password is still there as a backup, so make it a solid one. I also recommend changing it every few months for extra safety against shoulder surfers.
Go to Settings > Face ID and access code (or Touch ID and passcode on older iPhones with the Touch ID button), enter your existing password, then tap Access code options (or Change the code if you already have this set) to get 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 is easy for shoulder surfers to see what your PIN code is (it is also sometimes obvious to know which four digits are in use due to the position of the greasy fingerprints on the screen).
While you are here, scroll to Wipe off The data and make sure it’s enabled.
After 10 attempts (towards the end there will be a timer based lockout to slow down the entry process, preventing pranksters from destroying your data), the encryption key will be removed and your data erased permanently and securely.
Use a password manager
The cornerstone of good security is having good passwords.
iOS has both an auto-fill password feature using the built-in iCloud Keychain or third-party password managers like LastPass, Dashlane, and 1Password.
You can find this feature in Settings > Passwords > Autofill passwords.
Also: 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 a passcode to a device you choose, which should block most attacks.
Go to Settings > and touch your name at the top of the screen, then go to Password and security, Then choose Two-factor authentication.
Make sure your iPhone locks quickly
The shorter you set the lock screen timeout setting (there are options ranging from 30 seconds to never), the sooner your iPhone will need authentication to access it. Sure, it can be a bit of a speedbump, but Face ID and Touch ID are pretty fast and smooth.
It is also a good way to save battery power.
You can change the auto-lock time by going to Settings > Display and brightness > Automatic locking.
I have mine set at 30 seconds.
Use Find My
It’s a handy feature to use if you’re worried about your device being stolen or you’re the type of person to lose things. In these situations, every second counts.
To activate it, go to Settings then tap your name at the top of the screen and navigate to Find my > Find my iphone.
From here you can also check the Send last location function, which sends your device’s location to Apple when the battery is low, allowing you to find it even when the battery is dead, and Find my network, which helps you locate your iPhone even if it is offline.
Don’t give apps your exact location
You now have the option to allow apps to access your general location, but not your exact location. It’s good to have the choice to use location data without giving a specific location.
It makes sense that some apps have your precise location – mapping and navigation, for example, and the Tile app that tracks my stuff – but, for other apps it might not make sense, and for those – here you can tell iOS to give them a little more vague location data.
To access this setting, go to Settings> Privacy> Location services then check the permissions of the apps that have access to your location.
Control how much data your locked iPhone can leak
Control how accessible you want to be on a locked device.
iOS gives control over the following:
- Day view
- Notification center
- Control center
- Siri
- Reply with a message
- Home control
- Wallet
- Return a 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 lock it, the more often you have to unlock your device to see what happens.
The USB Accessories feature is especially useful because it will prevent the Lightning port from being used to connect to an accessory if your iPhone or iPad has been locked for more than an hour.
Go to Settings > Face ID and access code (or Touch ID and access code on iPhones with Touch ID), enter your existing password, then scroll to the bottom of the page to control that.
It is also a good idea to secure notifications. While it is very convenient to display information on the lock screen, remember that this is available to everyone, you may want to lock what is displayed.
To do this, go to Settings > Notifications > Show previews and change the setting to Once unlocked or Never.
Don’t give apps access to all your photos
Photos can be incredibly personal, and now you can choose not to give apps access to all – or for that matter, none – of your photos.
When an app first requests access to your photos, you have the option of blocking access, granting full access, or accessing selected photos.
And if you change your mind, you can head to Settings> Privacy> Photos and make changes. It might be a good idea to check what permissions you’ve granted to existing apps and whether you want to make any changes.
Prevent your iPhone from being tracked on Wi-Fi networks
Your iPhone can now assign a fake MAC address to Wi-Fi routers, which prevents your device from being tracked while using network connections.
This feature is enabled by default and you can find it by going Settings> Wi-Fi then click on the “i” in a circle next to the network.
Note that if this works fine on most networks it can cause issues. For example, some smart grids are designed to send a notification when a new device connects. It can also play with parental controls or corporate / corporate networks where permissions are assigned based on MAC address (it is not recommended to use MAC address for authentication, but it happens).
If you are having trouble with certain Wi-Fi networks, you may need to turn this feature off.
Use hardware authentication
I strongly believe in using hardware authentication which is why I recommend using something like the Yubico Yubikey.
Get one and use it.
Install a security application
I’ve been using iVerify for a few months now and it has some smart suggestions for securing iOS.
What’s that green / orange dot at the top of your screen?
A green dot appears when accessing the camera (similar to the green light that lights up on Macs when the camera is on), and an orange dot for microphone access. It is a handy indicator of misbehaving apps.
Don’t know which app turns on the camera or microphone? Head to Control Center and you’ll notice a notice at the top telling you the most recent app that accessed the camera or microphone.
Use a VPN, especially if you use a free Wi-Fi connection
Do you spend a lot of time using the free Wi-Fi on the go? If you do, you really need a VPN.
See: 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 securely and without others being able to spy on what you are doing.
There are many VPN providers to choose from, but if you’re looking for a recommendation, my pick is F-Secure’s Freedome VPN.
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