Tuesday 19 November 2019

10 Easy Steps to Better iPhone and iPad Security

A finger entering a passcode on an iPhone's homescreen.
ymgerman/Shutterstock.com

There’s a good chance you spend more time interacting with the online world on your smartphone than any other device. Let’s take a look at how you can up your iPhone and iPad security game.

1. Keep Your iPhone (and iPad) Up to Date

Install iOS Software Update

It might sound obvious, but keeping your iPhone (or iPad) up to date is one of the most important things you can do from a security standpoint. Security issues are often discovered in iOS, and once they’re public knowledge, that means they’re ripe for exploitation. Apple regularly patches these holes with incremental updates.

You can turn on Automatic Updates under Settings > General > Software Update so that you never need manually install one of these updates again. Your phone will install any updates for the current version of iOS automatically while you sleep.

You’ll still need to manually upgrade your iPhone to the next major version of iOS (e.g., iOS 13 to iOS 14) when the time comes. That’s by design, and it means you can delay upgrading if you’re concerned about the teething troubles that crop up with each new major iOS revision.

2. Use a Secure Passcode and Face ID or Touch ID

Create Alphanumeric Passcode to Unlock iPhone

You’re probably already using Face ID or Touch ID to unlock your device with your likeness or fingerprint, but how secure is your passcode? The passcode is your device’s Achilles heel if someone has your phone or tablet in their hands. It’s the only thing stopping a would-be snooper from accessing your entire digital life.

With the arrival of biometrics like Face ID and Touch ID, it’s easier than ever to unlock your iPhone. As a result, you should make it more difficult for anyone who isn’t you. That means setting a longer, less predictable numerical passcode or even a password that uses more than letters. You’ll still have to enter this from time to time, like when your device restarts, but not often enough for it to be a drag.

Head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, or just Settings > Passcode depending on your device) and select Change Passcode. When prompted for a new passcode, tap Passcode Options at the bottom of the screen. Here you can decide to use a “Custom Alphanumeric Code,” which is what we’d normally call a password.

3. Secure Your Lock Screen

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