Increase Your iPhone Security With 10 Easy Steps

Your iPhone is the key to your deepest secrets, but have you got any idea how many secrets it can disclose to strangers? While iPhone and other Apple devices are pretty secure, there are other ways to turn your iPhone security ironclad.

10 Easy Steps To increase Your iPhone Security:

Here’s a list of 10 tips to boost up your iPhone security:

1. Use a strong password

The topmost efficient way to protect your data and enhance your iPhone security is to use a really strong password rather than setting a 4 digit pin code for unlocking your iPhone. A strong password can easily be generated by using a complex set of letters, symbols, and digits. It is an added security measure if the password request appears right after the lock screen without any delay. You may also add another feature that is the “erase data” feature so that the device will obliterate everything from its memory after 10 failed attempts at the passcode.

A strong password generation can help you to reduce criminal attacks as the attacker gets divert on encountering a strong password.

To set a passcode on your device; go to Settings > Touch ID and Passcode > Turn Passcode On > Enter a 6-digit passcode (of 4-digit for iOS and earlier) and then confirm it by reentering the same passcode.

2. Turn Off Lock Screen Notifications

If your data appears on the lock screen in the form of notifications then even the strongest of your passwords will be rendered useless in preventing the data from being disclosed to the strangers. Emails, messages, and other information transmitted from apps and directed on the lock screen as notifications can contain some crucial or sensitive data as financial credentials, confirmation codes, etc.

So the less info a lock screen reveals on your iPhone, the safest your privacy will be.

To turn off lock screen notifications; go to Settings > Touch ID and Passcode > Allow access when locked section.

3. Enable two-step verification for Apple ID and iCloud

Two-step verification doubles up your iPhone security thus, it is rightly said that ‘Two heads are better than one’. It is always recommended for you to set up two-step verification whenever you see that is available for Apple ID and iCloud. On setting up two-step verification, you register your Apple devices to receive 4-digit verification codes.

This boosts your iPhone security as you now have to verify your identity by registering both your password and a 4-digit verification code. This way your Apple account remains secure from snoopers who try to access your iPhone without authorization.

To enable two-step verification; go to https://appleid.apple.com > Manage your Apple ID > Password and Security > Two-Step Verification.

4. Disable Siri on a lock screen

You personal and confidential information that you sometimes wish to confide only to yourself, can be easily given away by one of your iPhone features like Siri. This great personal assistant will prove a lot more secure for you if you prevent it from activating on a ‘Hey Siri’ voice command. You should always keep it in mind that Siri can communicate with anyone and not just with the owner of the device.

To disable Siri on a lock screen, go to Settings > Touch ID and Passcode > Allow access when locked section > Siri: off and Settings > General > Siri > Allow Hey Siri: off.

5. Turn Off Automatic Sync to iCloud

Being an owner of one or more than one Apple devices, you might be well-known to the automatic syncing ability of Apple gadgets. After syncing to the Cloud the data stays the same, even if you try to delete it locally you won’t be able to remove it. Every piece of data like your messages, pictures, documents, etc. that you store on your iPhones and iCloud syncs automatically until and unless you turn it off. This feature should be turned off if you don’t want to sync your Apple devices on a daily routine.

By turning off automatic syncing you can increase your iPhone security as by doing so you can reduce the risk of compromising your data if it is on the iClooud servers, or if one of your Apple devices gets stolen or lost.

To turn off automatic sync; go to Settings > iCloud.

6. Eliminate Automatic WiFi Connections to Known Networks

Although the automatic connection to known WiFi hotspots might seem the most convenient way, but there also lies the risks of cybercriminal attacks. This is possible because a cyber pillager might have established a fake WiFi hotspot with the same credentials as a trusted public hotspot. This way you might not be able to distinguish the real hotspot from the fake one, as a result, your iPhone might be working under the supervision of a malicious WiFi network thus your data is directed to the hacker. Therefore, to increase your iPhone security we recommend you to turn off this option or keep a hawk’s eye on every WiFi hotspot you get connected to.

To eliminate automatic WiFi connection; go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Ask to join networks: on

7. Get a VPN

A Virtual Private Network – VPN is the ultimate tool that greatly adds to your iPhone security. It is an important tool that an iPhone user should have so that he can stay anonymous and secure from all malicious attacks. A VPN offers many extraordinary features along with advanced security. There are two varieties of VPN; free or paid VPN. The free VPN is difficult to trust upon as it might have vulnerabilities and security issues. Whereas paid VPNs like the most trusted NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and PureVPN goes to that extra mile just to provide you exactly what you desire.

A VPN service encrypts all your Internet traffic and also masks your IP address, this way it ensures complete anonymity.

To set up a VPN; go to Settings > General > VPN > Add VPN Configuration… (the information you have to submit will be provided by your VPN provider).

8. Turn Off Cookies

Cookies are those small text files that are generated by many websites and then it is left on your device. They might be helpful to keep you logged in on various websites, or to present you with relevant content via ads. The cookies also provide a means for keeping track of your preferences. This might mean storage of sensitive data and where there is sensitive data the risks of cyber attacks start gaining ground. Therefore, to avoid such attacks and enhance your iPhone security it is recommended that you turn off your cookies on your browsers.

By turning off cookies the chances of unauthorized use of your login data reduces and also your private information stored in cookie files stays secure.

To turn off cookies; ‘For Safari’: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy and Security section > Do Not Track: on, Block Cookies: Always Block. For third-party browsers; look for similar browser settings.

9. Turn Off The AutoFill Option In Your Browsers

Just like you are recommended to turn off your cookies, you are also recommended to do the same for AutoFill options. Because if someone else comes across your iPhone, there are great chances that he might be able to log in to different websites with your credentials, therefore, it is better to turn off this feature in your browsers. You might face some trouble in filling your credentials wherever you wish to log in but believe us this is far more secure than putting your iPhone security and your privacy at stake.

To turn off autofill options; ‘For Safari’: Go to Settings > Safari > General section > Passwords and AutoFill. For third-party browsers; look for similar browser settings.

10. Do not let apps access your personal data

Now coming on the most crucial tip of advice for you, that is to limit the access of your apps. In iOS 8 there are various features and data types that nearly any app can access be it contacts or even messages. Just assume that if you install a third-party keyboard then you must give it complete access to everything that you type, to be able to use it. This might seem quite unsafe to you thus you should go to ‘Settings’ and avoid such apps from gaining access to your data. By doing so you might become unable to use some of your devices but that’s the only way by which you can boost up your iPhone security.

To avoid apps from access; go to Settings > Privacy.

Conclusion

In this era, security is at perennial war with comfort. The easier it gets for us to get access to our stuff on iPhone, the faster it gets for hackers to try and infiltrate. So in order to give these hackers and snoopers a tough time you should boost up your iPhone security. Having said that, by implementing the above-mentioned tips you can easily increase your iPhone security in no time.