Your iPhone stores a wealth of confidential information, making it a prime target for cyber threats. Clever hackers and thieves find ways to crack into your phone and gain access to all kinds of private information. Here are 7 tips that can help safeguard your data from malicious hackers.
- Turn On “Find My iPhone”
If you’re an iPhone user and your phone was stolen or is missing, turn on “Find My iPhone” to prevent anyone from activating or using your iPhone. It’s recommended to report the missing device to your cell phone provider. The provider will disable your account to prevent phone calls, messages, and data use. - Set Strong Passwords
Setting a strong passcode is one of the most important things you can do to protect your device. Use a sequence of random characters or a phrase that only you would know. Include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. The minimum character length should be 14. You can also add passwords to specific apps.
As for your front screen lock, always have Face ID or fingerprint authentication enabled. A 6-digit PIN code makes it more difficult to access as it can create over 1 million combinations. - Never Keep Sensitive Information
You may think it’s convenient to have photos of your social security number, credit card information, or license in your gallery, but having private information so accessible to potential thieves is incredibly risky. - Turn off the “Control Center”
Even when locked, a thief can still bypass security measures by accessing the Control Center. If they get in, they’re able to turn your data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth on and off and even toggle on Airplane mode. This could stop apps that need access to the internet from working normally. - iOS Update
Update your phone’s software regularly to ensure the latest security measures from Apple. It only takes a few minutes. - Enable “Advanced Data Protection”
Toggle the Advanced Data Protection feature to protect your iCloud data from unauthorized access if you forget your password. To access your account, you’ll be required to provide two recovery methods, such as a recovery key and a trusted device. - Enable “Erase Data” after failed attempts
After 10 consecutive failed passcode attempts of accessing your iPhone, the device will automatically wipe out all data. This setting is for individuals who want to take security to the next level. Make sure you remember your password! Creating a backup of your data via iCloud helps keep your data safe.
While Apple puts a lot of effort into user privacy, and creating devices that are secure by design, thieves will stop at nothing from attempting to steal one’s confidential information. Putting a small amount of effort into protecting your iPhone’s data will make it less likely to fall to data theft.
