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8 Ultimate Tips to Make Your iPhone More Secure
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Smartphone security is more important than ever these days. According to studies, over 20% of smartphone users have had their devices lost or stolen. And with how much personal and sensitive data we keep on our phones now, from photos to text messages to banking info, it's critical to take precautions to keep your iPhone secure. In this article, We'll be sharing 8 tips you can start implementing now to better protect your iPhone from threats like hacking, malware, and unauthorized access.
1. Use a Strong Alphanumeric Passcode
Your iPhone's passcode is the first and most important line of defense against unwanted access. Though a simple 4-digit passcode is better than nothing, it can easily be cracked with brute force in just a few hours.
For far better security, always use a longer alphanumeric passcode with a mix of uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This type of passcode has thousands more potential combinations that are extremely difficult for a computer or thief to guess.
2. Enable Touch ID or Face ID
Apple's Touch ID fingerprint scanning and Face ID facial recognition technologies don't just offer great convenience by allowing you to quickly unlock your iPhone just by scanning your fingerprint or showing your face. These biometric authentication methods also provide a big security boost, as it's far more difficult for someone else to replicate your unique fingerprint or facial details needed to unlock the device.
3. Turn On Find My iPhone
Find My iPhone is an invaluable security tool every iPhone owner should be using. It allows you to remotely track, lock, or wipe your iPhone if it ever gets lost or stolen. Simply log into iCloud.com or the Find My iPhone app and you can locate your device on a map, remotely lock the screen so no one can access it, display a custom message, play a sound, or remotely wipe the entire device as a last resort if it can't be recovered. This will help protect your valuable personal data from ending up in the wrong hands if your iPhone is ever lost or stolen.
4. Install Software Updates Promptly
While it may seem trivial, promptly installing major iOS software updates as soon as they are released is critical for maintaining the security of your iPhone. Updates frequently include important security patches that fix dangerous vulnerabilities in the operating system that could otherwise be exploited by hackers.
5. Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an important additional layer of security beyond just a password when logging into your most important accounts like iCloud, Gmail, banking apps, shopping sites, and more. After entering your password, you will also need to enter a temporary verification code sent to your phone or confirm using Touch/Face ID on your iPhone.
6. Limit Location Sharing
Many apps request access to your location data for useful features like local search results, weather reports based on your city, maps and navigation, and more. However excessive or long-term location data access also poses privacy risks. Be thoughtful about granting location access on your iPhone. Only allow persistent access for apps you fully trust, and limit it for most apps to only when the app is actively being used.
7. Use a VPN for Public Wi-Fi
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) encrypts all network data flowing between your devices and the internet. This prevents others on public Wi-Fi networks from intercepting or snooping on your browsing activity and data. VPNs also hide your IP address, providing anonymity. Reliable VPN providers like NordVPN offer easy-to-use iPhone apps, providing secure encrypted connections on any network.
8. Avoid Public USB Charging Stations
When you need to charge your iPhone on the go, avoid using public USB power ports like the ones found in airports, hotels, cafes, and other locations. Although convenient, these charging stations carry some risk, as data can surreptitiously be pulled from an iPhone simply by connecting it to a compromised or hacked USB port.
Conclusion
Implementing even just a few of these security best practices will go a long way in keeping your iPhone and personal data protected. Some key takeaways are using strong alphanumeric passcodes, limiting location sharing to only when needed, enabling two-factor authentication on important accounts, and keeping your iPhone software up-to-date. Keep these tips in mind to avoid making your iPhone an easy target for thieves or hackers.
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