Adverts
How many secrets do you think your iPhone can reveal to strangers? Even when it's in your hands, placed on a desk or carried on a laptop, it can reveal some of it – from personal correspondence and photos to financial information and credentials. So how do you protect yourself? Well, you can follow our tips to maximize the security of your iPhone, as we will explain 10 tips on how to make your iPhone more secure.
Keep in mind that doing everything we mentioned here will deprive your iPhone of some of its useful features, but at the same time, it will better protect your private data. You don't need to follow every tip, so feel free to choose what you're ready to sacrifice for safety reasons – it's completely up to you.
1. Use a strong password instead of a 4-digit code
The simplest and most efficient tip to protect your data and your iPhone is to use a strong password instead of a 4-digit PIN code to unlock your iPhone. It's a good idea to use a combination of letters, digits, and symbols. It's even better if the password is requested immediately after the lock screen, without delays. As an extra option, you can also activate the “erase data” feature, so that the device clears everything from memory after 10 failed password attempts. But remember that all data will be erased forever and you will not be able to recover it. Therefore, it is better not to forget your password.
How will this help? This will reduce the chances of a criminal being able to guess your password.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “Password” (or “Touch ID and password”) -> “Require password: immediately”; “Simple password: disabled”.
Settings1Use a strong password instead of a 4-digit password and kill all notifications on a lock screen.
2. Turn off lock screen notifications
Any password, even the strongest, will not prevent your data from being revealed if it appears on a lock screen. Messages, emails and other information in your apps may contain some sensitive data such as confirmation codes, private appointments, financial data, etc. The less your iPhone shows on a lock screen, the safer your data is.
How will this help? Does not allow strangers to supervise information displayed on a lock screen.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “Password” (or “Touch ID and password”) -> “Allow access when locked” section.
3.Turn on two-step verification for Apple ID and iCloud
One block is good, but two is better. That's why we highly recommend that you set up two-step verification whenever it's available for your Apple ID and iCloud. When you set up two-step verification, you register one or more trusted devices (devices you control) that can receive four-digit verification codes using SMS or the Find My iPhone service. Then, whenever you sign in to manage your Apple ID, sign in to iCloud, or make an iTunes, iBooks, or App Store purchase from a new device, you'll need to confirm your identity by entering your password and a Verification Code. 4 digits.
How will this help? This will prevent your Apple account from being used by anyone who is not authorized.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to https://appleid.apple.com -> “Manage your Apple ID” -> “Password & Security” -> “2-Step Verification”.
4. Disable Siri on a Lock Screen
Anyone can use Siri on a lock screen while you're away from your iPhone.
Siri is a great feature for your phone, but sometimes this friendly personal assistant can give you some information you'd rather keep private. It's not necessary to disable it completely, but you'll be much safer if you prevent it from activating from a lock screen or a “Hey Siri” voice command. Don't forget: Siri can communicate with anyone, not just the owner of the device she works on.
How will this help? This will eliminate the possibility of extracting data from the smartphone using Siri.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “Password” (or “Touch ID and password”) -> “Allow access when locked” section -> “Siri: off” and “Settings” -> “General” -> “Siri” – > “Allow “Hey Siri”: off”.
Settings2In iCloud settings, you can turn off automatic syncing for any type of data.
5. Turn off automatic syncing to iCloud
As you may know, many photos from a recent leak were originally stored on Apple's iCloud servers, which drove many celebrities crazy. They thought that deleting a photo from a phone would solve the problem, but it didn't: after syncing with the “cloud”, the data would remain there even if you got rid of it locally. In fact, it happens with almost all types of data, if we're talking about iPhones and iCloud: messages, notes, contacts, documents – everything syncs automatically unless you turn it off. And that's what we recommend, especially if you only have a few Apple devices and don't need to sync them daily.
How will this help? This will reduce the risk of your data being compromised while it's on iCloud's servers or if you lose one of your Apple devices.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “iCloud”.
6. Discard automatic WiFi connections to known networks
iPhones have a really cool feature that allows you to automatically connect to known Wi-Fi hotspots without your permission. On the one hand, this is a very useful option, as you don't need to do anything to switch from mobile Internet to local WiFi. But on the other hand, there is a chance that a cybercriminal will establish his own fake wireless network with the same name as a trusted public access point. In this scenario, you may not even recognize that your iPhone is running on the malicious WiFi network, giving away all your data to the scammer. This is why we recommend that you be aware of all the Wi-Fi hotspots you are in or disable this option.
How will this help? This will reduce the risk of connecting to the malicious wireless network.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “Wi-Fi” -> “Ask to join networks: on”.
7. Get used to VPN
The AutoFill option in a browser may compromise your credentials. Therefore, it is better to disable this feature.
We talk about VPN quite often on this blog. A Virtual Private Network is an essential tool that can bring extra security to everyone who uses an iPhone on different wireless networks, including unknown ones. Some VPN services are free, others are not, but several dollars a week is more than a fair price to keep your data protected.
How will this help? It will encrypt all incoming and outgoing Internet traffic, making it useless to intercept and analyze.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “General” -> “VPN” -> “Add VPN Setting…”.
8. Disable cookies in your browsers
Cookies are small files that almost any website generates and leaves on your device. They may contain some information about you, your computer or smartphone and your preferences. It helps websites to keep you logged in or show you some relevant content including advertisements, but in some cases they can be very useful to cybercriminals as they may contain credentials and other sensitive data. To be honest, turning off cookies may bring you more stress than relief, but it helps your data by being more secure. Furthermore, some discomfort is not the biggest price you have to pay for data protection.
How will this help? This will reduce the risk of unauthorized use of your login data and other private information stored in cookie files.
Where can you define these requirements? For Safari: Go to “Settings” -> “Safari” -> “Privacy and Security” section -> “Do Not Track: on”, “Block Cookies: Always Block”; For third-party browsers: see similar browser settings.
Settings3In Safari settings, you can disable cookies and AutoFill.
9. Turn off AutoFill in your browsers
The same goes for the AutoFill option: if someone gets your iPhone, chances are they can log in to multiple sites. You don't want that to happen, do you? So hang up! Again, you will experience some inconveniences, but it is worth it.
How will this help? This will reduce the risk of someone logging into websites with your credentials when your iPhone is stolen or given to someone.
Where can you define these requirements? For Safari: Go to “Settings” -> “Safari” -> “General” section -> “Passwords and AutoFill”; For third-party browsers: see similar browser settings.
10. Don't allow apps to access your contacts, photos, messages and other private data
This tip is quite extreme, but if you have already followed all the recommendations we have given, then you can go ahead with the last one. In iOS 8, there are a significant number of features and data types that almost every app can access: from GPS to contacts and messages. For example, if you install a third-party keyboard, you must give it full access to everything you're typing in order to use it. If this sounds quite insecure to you, then you have no choice but to go to “Settings” and block all these corporate apps from accessing your data. After that, you probably won't be able to use some of the apps you have, but that's how it is.
How will this help? At least you'll have some confidence in knowing that big companies like Google or Facebook won't receive any information about where you are, what you're doing, and what kind of pizza you like.
Where can you define these requirements? Go to “Settings” -> “Privacy”.
If you need more information, you can consult directly with one of our technicians or the website of Apple. Did you like the “10 tips on how to make your iPhone more secure”?
Want to stay up to date with the best games and anime. Check out our partner's website Hello Nerd!
Discover our online store, with the best prices! Check it out by clicking here
Adverts
Furtaram o celular apple do meu filho e a senha não protegê nada,
O pior é que o atendimento de voces é até as 20:00h,
Que também não ajuda, ninguém tem horário para ser asaltado, decepcionante.