15 Golden Tips To Make Your iPhone Safer And More Reliable

A few years ago, data security on the iPhone was not seriously discussed - the priority was to protect the Mac. But with the growth of threats and the amount of important information on mobile devices, the situation has changed.

Apple developers have gone to great lengths to protect your smartphone from external threats, keep your important data private, and keep your calendar, phone book, email, and photos private.

There are plenty of settings in iOS to help limit access to personal information to third-party apps, and to help you recover it if you accidentally lose your smartphone. About all this and more in this collection of tips.

1. Activate the automatic system update

With the release of each new version iOS not only acquires new features, but also becomes more secure. Developers are closing security holes in the system and adding new tools to prevent hacking.

If you enable automatic updates, new versions will be installed on your device at night when you're not using it. You do not need to do anything else.

How to do this: go to "Settings" > "Main" > "Software update" > "Auto update" and set the "Auto update" switch to active.

2. Use a complex password code made of letters and numbers

If you believe the statistics, you have no more than a couple of percent chance to guess a four-digit passphrase code after 10 tries. Nevertheless, it is very easy to spy it from the neighboring seat on public transport or in line at the supermarket.

It's better to use a complex code-password of letters and numbers, which you won't be able to remember quickly. You won't have to enter it all the time when you unlock - you'll keep using Face ID (or Touch ID) to do so.

How to do it: go to the Settings > Face ID and passcode menu and change the passcode by selecting "Random code (letters + numbers)" in the Passcode Options menu.

3. Enable erasing when an incorrect passcode is entered

To keep important data from falling into the wrong hands, it's best to set it to be automatically erased after ten unsuccessful entry attempts. But after enabling this feature, it's best to let children handle the device only under their own supervision.

How to do this: Go to Settings > Face ID and passcode and toggle the Data Erase switch to the active position.

4. Turn on attention control for the Face ID scanner

Once enabled, you can only unlock your iPhone by face if you look at the screen. This feature is needed so that you can't unlock your smartphone's security with Face ID while you're asleep.

How to do this: go to Settings > Face ID and passcode and toggle the "Require Attention for Face ID" switch to the active position.

5. Turn off USB when the iPhone screen is locked

After the advent of GrayKey and other similar devices to hack iPhones via Lightning, Apple has provided a special protection mechanism. iOS can disable any USB device if the smartphone hasn't been unlocked for more than an hour.

How to do this: go to Settings > Face ID and passcode and toggle the "USB accessories" switch to the inactive position.

6. Disable feature access on the lock screen

If you're worried that your iPhone might fall into the wrong hands, it's best to turn off access to any of its data from the lock screen. This is especially true for "Notification Center," where a lot of incoming messages go.

How to do this: go to Settings > Face ID and passcode and toggle the Today, Notification Center, Control Point, Reply Message, Home Management, and Missed Repeat switches to the inactive position.

7. Prevent notification thumbnails from displaying

iOS can show message text in "Notification Center" even when the iPhone is locked. It's better to use the "No lock" option - in this case, you'll have to unlock your smartphone via Face ID (Touch ID) first to show the thumbnails.

To do this, go to Settings > Thumbnail Display and choose No Lock.

8. Set up two-factor Apple ID authentication

With two-factor authentication, just knowing your account password isn't enough to log in to your Apple ID. You'll also need to get a special verification code to one of your verified devices or a trusted phone number.

How to do this: go to Settings > Account > Password & Security and turn on Two-Factor Authentication.

9. Disable Apple ID reset with a passcode

By default, you can reset your old Apple ID password and enter a new one only with the iPhone passcode. This feature is especially scary if you're using a four-digit numeric option, so it's best to turn it off.

How to do it:

• Go to Settings > Screen Time and click on Enable Screen Time;
• Configure "Screen Time" by selecting the "This is my iPhone" option;
• Open the "Content & Privacy" menu and toggle the "Content & Privacy" switch to the active position;
• Expand "Account" under the "Allow changes" section of the menu and select "None.

10. Activate the PIN password for your SIM card

You need a PIN code for your SIM card so that outsiders can't use it to make calls and receive messages when it's installed in another device. If you don't protect it, attackers can even confirm banking transactions with your account.

How to do it:

• Go to Settings > Cellular > SIM-PIN, toggle the SIM-PIN switch to the active position, confirm your intention by entering your PIN;
• Press the button "Change PIN", enter the old password PIN, then the new one and confirm it.

11. Close the location record for frequent locations

As a standard, the iPhone collects information about the places you frequent to provide information about them. Apple promises that this data is protected, but you can access it with a passcode. It's best to turn this feature off.

How to do this: go to Settings > Privacy > Geolocation Services > System Services > Significant Locations and toggle the Significant Locations switch to the inactive position.

12. Limit Targeted Advertising to Your Interests

Apple makes no secret of the fact that it gives developers some information about the owner of the device. This is needed so that they can target specific ads to him within the software - this semblance of tracking can be turned off.

How to do this: go to the "Settings" > "Privacy" > "Advertising" menu and set the "Tracking limitation" switch to the active position.

13. Turn off geolocation-linked advertising

Another of Apple's advertising tools are location-specific ads. In principle, there's nothing wrong with them, and sometimes they can even be useful. Nevertheless, it is better to turn them off to be safer.

How to do this: go to Settings > Privacy > Geolocation Services > System Services and toggle the "Apple Geolocation Ads" switch to the inactive position.

14. Disable autofill in Safari

It's best to turn off auto-fill data for your contact and bank cards in Safari. The browser can automatically enter first and last name, address, and credit card information other than CVV/CVC, but that can be fraught, too.

How to do this: go to Settings > Safari > AutoFill, toggle the "Contact Data" and "Credit Cards" switches to the inactive position.

15. Block the use of all cookies

Cookies are used to store your personal preferences and statistics about your activities. These can be used by sites to show you content they find profitable. You can turn them off.

How to do this: go to Settings > Safari and toggle "Block all cookies" in the Privacy and Security menu to the active position.