{"id":27357,"date":"2024-05-01T14:07:19","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T22:07:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/?p=27357"},"modified":"2024-04-16T14:14:08","modified_gmt":"2024-04-16T22:14:08","slug":"how-to-secure-your-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spokeo.com\/compass\/how-to-secure-your-iphone\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Secure Your iPhone From Hackers (and Anyone Else)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Apple launched the modern smartphone era<\/a> in 2007 with its first iPhone, and it\u2019s hard to remember what life was like before we had these handy gadgets.\u00a0 The very idea of having a powerful, multifunction computer and personal communications device we could fit in our pockets was straight-up science fiction not too long before that.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, our phones are so central to our lives that misplacing one’s phone is as heart-stopping as misplacing our wallets used to be.\u00a0 In fact, because we keep so much of our lives on our phones, they\u2019ve become a significant point of vulnerability to hackers and scammers.\u00a0 While you yourself may not be a high-profile celebrity target<\/a>, criminals make most of their money from ordinary people like you.\u00a0 We\u2019ve written before about what to do after<\/em> you\u2019ve been hacked<\/a>, but it\u2019s better yet to protect your phone in the first place.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is our guide to securing your iPhone from threats, and Android users will find their corresponding guide here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Context: Apple Does a Lot of the Heavy Lifting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easier for Apple to secure iOS and iPhones than it is for Google to secure Android, because Android is (at least partially) an open-source platform.  Anyone can license Android and build a phone for it, and manufacturers have the option of modifying Android\u2019s default appearance with their own tweaks to the interface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apple takes the opposite tack, maintaining full control of the hardware and software from the earliest design stages.\u00a0 That means security can be \u201cbaked in\u201d at the hardware level and that iOS and the underlying silicon can be designed in tandem<\/a> to harden each other against intrusion.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exception to Apple\u2019s iron control is the third-party apps that make up most of the App Store.\u00a0 That ecosystem was essential to Apple\u2019s success (\u201cThere\u2019s an app for that\u201d), but it also represents a vulnerability.\u00a0 Apple goes to significant lengths<\/a> to make sure that apps in the App Store are safe, come from legitimate developers, are free from malicious code, and adhere to Apple\u2019s mandatory privacy standards.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, before you ever open the box, Apple does much of the work of securing your phone.  Despite that, every year reveals new vulnerabilities in the platform (hackers are pretty smart, too!), so it\u2019s still on you to help keep your iPhone as safe as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone Security Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are a handful of basic, fundamental things you can do to secure your phone, so we\u2019ll start there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Applying Your iOS Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember those \u201cnew vulnerabilities\u201d we spoke about a moment ago?\u00a0 Updates to iOS<\/a> aren\u2019t just about features and bug-fixes, they\u2019re also how Apple protects you against newly discovered hacks and vulnerabilities.\u00a0 Depending on the age of your device, you might choose a newer version of iOS or the latest update to your existing version, but \u2014 either way \u2014 being up to date is fundamental to your phone\u2019s security.\u00a0 Yes it\u2019s an inconvenience, and yes it takes time, but it\u2019s worthwhile.\u00a0 We promise.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updating Third-Party Apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Updates to your third-party apps are just as important, because each app is also a potential source of hacks or privacy breaches.\u00a0 By default, any app you\u2019ve downloaded from the App Store will update automatically, but you can manually update<\/a> \u2014 if necessary \u2014 by opening the App Store, tapping your profile icon and then tapping Update All or updating individual apps as necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tweaking Your Lock Screen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your lock screen is like the lock on the front door of your home, and you can tweak it<\/a> to make it more secure.\u00a0 Go to Settings and then Face ID & Passcode (Touch ID & Passcode on older devices), and \u2014 if it\u2019s not already enabled \u2014 tap Turn Passcode On.\u00a0 Even if you use Touch ID or Face ID, a passcode locks down key security functions like restarts, configuration profiles and (of course) passcode settings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A six-digit passcode is better than four digits, and in Passcode Options you can go a step further by setting up a full alphanumeric password.  It\u2019s kind of a pain to enter a password all the time, but it\u2019s much more secure (and a lot<\/em> better than identity theft).  This is the very first and foremost of iPhone privacy settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iPhone Privacy Settings and Security Tweaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once those basics are taken care of, you can move on to more meaningful privacy and security tweaks.  You\u2019ll need to dig deeper into your iPhone settings, but these tweaks are within the abilities of any user. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reviewing and Fine-Tuning App Permissions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apps sometimes need access to your iPhone\u2019s hardware and data.\u00a0 If you\u2019re going to Zoom with someone, for example, the app will need your mic and camera.\u00a0 To see and change the permissions for your installed apps<\/a>, tap Settings and then Privacy.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see a list of features \u2014 Location Services, Contacts, Camera, Health and more \u2014 and for each of those permissions, you can tap to see which apps have access.\u00a0 If you aren\u2019t comfortable with a specific app having that access, you can turn it off.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also go to Privacy and then Tracking to see which apps have requested permission to track you<\/a>. \u00a0 You can turn tracking on and off for individual apps, or turn off the Allow Apps to Request to Track toggle (at the top of your screen) to refuse tracking for all apps.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Removing Unused Apps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s true that for almost anything, \u201cThere\u2019s an app for that.\u201d\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll keep using the app indefinitely, of course, and \u2014 since each app on your phone represents a potential source of vulnerabilities \u2014 it makes sense to periodically scroll through the apps on your phone and delete any that y<\/a>o<\/a>u\u2019re not using<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enabling Find My iPhone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An iPhone that\u2019s missing or (potentially) stolen obviously represents a high risk, and turning on Find My iPhone<\/a> can help you manage those risks.\u00a0 Tap Settings, and then Find My, and the first option on the next screen will be Find My iPhone.\u00a0 Set the toggle to \u201cOn,\u201d if it isn\u2019t already.\u00a0 The Send Last Location option means your phone will use the last of its battery power to let Apple know where it is (so you can find it from another device once the battery is dead).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That way, if your phone goes missing<\/a>, you\u2019ll be able to locate it or \u2014 if necessary \u2014 delete its contents.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leveraging FaceID (or TouchID) for Added Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Earlier we suggested using a passcode or password to increase the security of your lock screen (beyond FaceID alone), but you can also use FaceID \u2014 or TouchID on older devices \u2014 to improve security for many accounts and apps.  Passwords can be guessed or stolen, but if an app or account can work with FaceID you should set it up to do that as an additional form of authentication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Securing Accounts With MFA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your apps and accounts won\u2019t necessarily all support FaceID, but most will support some additional form of multi-factor authentication (MFA), also sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA).  The best-known version of this is a code texted to your phone, but third-party authentication apps and even hardware \u201ckeys\u201d are also options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re using iOS 15, Apple now has its own authentication process<\/a> that works the same way as third-party apps.\u00a0 There\u2019s a bit of copying and pasting involved, but it\u2019s pretty straightforward.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Secure Your iPhone From Hackers (the Advanced Stuff)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several ways you can take your iPhone\u2019s security to another level, if you have the expertise (or know someone who does).  A few of these include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Installing Malware Protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Apple\u2019s control of the App Store means you\u2019re unlikely to get a virus or other malware through that avenue, but there are others to look out for.  You almost certainly use your iPhone to browse the internet, to receive messages or to access public Wi-Fi.  Those are all among the countless ways you can still get infected by malware, despite Apple\u2019s best efforts.  Installing third-party malware protection can help protect you from those threats (and sometimes, your own bad habits). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using an Alternative Browser<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Safari is a reasonably privacy-conscious browser (especially compared to Chrome\u2019s data-slurping habits), but it\u2019s not the end-all.  If you\u2019d like a more serious approach to online privacy and low-profile browsing, consider a more explicitly privacy-centric browser like Brave or DuckDuckGo (or Tor, if you\u2019re really<\/em> hardcore about it). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a VPN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Public Wi-Fi isn\u2019t encrypted, which means busy cafes and shopping centers are prolific \u201cfishing spots\u201d for scammers and criminals, who can grab a lot<\/em> of data from unwary mobile users.\u00a0 One way to protect your online activity is with a virtual private network, or VPN.\u00a0 We\u2019ve written about those before<\/a>: A VPN essentially gives you your own private tunnel through the chaos of public networks and the internet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find plenty of free and paid VPN apps in the App Store, so compare features and reviews to find one that does what you want. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Develop Good Security Habits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any combination of the settings and tweaks we\u2019ve listed here will make your iPhone more secure, but ultimately \u2014 more than anything \u2014 it\u2019s your own attitudes and habits that have the biggest impact on phone security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That doesn\u2019t mean you should be paranoid about using your iPhone, just that training yourself to be security-conscious (and to maintain an attitude of healthy skepticism in general) can help a lot.  We\u2019re talking about things like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n