With iPhone security being a hot topic recently, we figured now would be a great time to go over some tips to keep your iPhone safe and secure from the prying eyes of hackers and identity thefts. While iOS is quite secure, there are always extra measures you can go to in order to protect yourself. If you’re like us and use your iPhone for everything from your personal life to running your business, you most likely have some sensitive information stored on your device. Everything from website logins to photos and videos can be leveraged by unsavory types in order to steal your identity or gain access to your financial records. So today, we’ll be going over some of the most essential iPhone security tips.
First and foremost: Keep iOS Up-to-date
One of the best things you can do to keep yourself and your iPhone protected is making sure to keep iOS updated. After learning about the vulnerabilities of an outdated operating system, I shudder when I hear of people going years without an update.
Hackers are always looking to for a way in, and in many ways, this is by finding flaws in Apple’s coding. iOS updates often include patches to these security holes, so hackers will target those with outdated operating systems.
In order to ensure you’re running the latest version of iOS 11, follow this sequence: Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s an available update, you’ll see a description of the update and a button to either download it or install it if it’s already been downloaded.
Use “Find My iPhone”
“Find My iPhone” is one of the best things (aside from keeping iOS updated) you can do to protect yourself. Should you lose your iPhone, “Find My iPhone” allows you to log into your account via another iOS device and remotely wipe your phone clean to ensure that no personal data remains. So even if the thief or hacker was able to access your locked device, there would be no information on it for them to exploit.
To activate “Find My iPhone”:
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap on your Apple ID at the top.
- Tap iCloud.
- Scroll down and tap Find My iPhone.
- Tap the switch to enable it.
Longer Passcode = More Secure
Most people I know use a 4 digit passcode to lock their iPhone. The problem here is that there are only 10,000 4-digit combinations. So, all a hacker needs to do is use a tool called GrayKey to crack this code which can be done within a few hours. Even a 6 digit passcode isn’t that secure as it can easily be cracked in a couple days.
Our suggestion is to use a longer passcode for extra security. It can take up to a few months to crack an 8 digit passcode, which will give you plenty of time to wipe your phone of any sensitive data by using “Find My iPhone”.
To set a new passcode in iOS, follow these steps:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode if you have an iPhone X).
- Enter your Passcode.
- Tap on Change Passcode.
- Enter your Passcode.
- Tap Passcode Options.
- From the options, choose either Custom Numeric Code or Custom Alphanumeric Code.
- Now enter your new code and verify it.
We suggest using a passcode that’s at least 8 digits long, though you can choose one that’s up to 10 digits if you please.
As you can see, there are plenty of security vulnerabilities out there but by following these three easy steps, you’ll be a lot safer than most iPhone users.
