With so many people using Apple products, the company takes great care that their customers’ data remains out of reach of malicious entities. You might observe various safeguards in Apple’s advertisements and your device’s software. However, you need to take some personal actions to protect yourself further.
So, if you wish to protect your internet activity and identity on iOS, it is a good idea to take a few measures yourself. Here are some of the most valuable ones that you need to follow.
1. Make sure automatic iOS updates are on
iOS receives constant software updates to enhance user experience. These can range from simple additions to the interface to massive overhauls in resource management. An essential function of such updates is to seal off any backdoor vulnerabilities within the device that hackers can utilize as exploits. A notable example was unlocking the iPhone 6 with Siri enabled.
You can do it through the Settings app if you wish to turn on automatic updates. Simply browse through the General tab and toggle automatic updates to ‘On.’
2. Enable Find My iPhone
Apple uses a tracking service called Find My iPhone that allows you to geo-locate your device in case it gets misplaced or stolen. It requires your Apple ID login on any device to narrow the location to the nearest 20 feet (6 meters).
Once you enable Find My iPhone, no one can access your iPhone, reset it, or erase any data from it unless they have access to your Apple ID. You can do that from the Find My [device] tab in Settings.
3. Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi
When at an airport or a coffee shop, you might be tempted to use their local Wi-Fi to save a few bucks on internet fees, especially when traveling. However, such networks are known spots for malicious people who might want to steal your data or plant malware within your iPhone.
An excellent method to avoid such an event is to download VPN apps that encrypt all incoming and outgoing data packets, preventing them from interception until they reach their intended destination. Moreover, it allows you to access region-locked content by changing your digital location to anywhere else in the world.
4. Use additional encryption when backing up
Your iPhone may contain sensitive data such as your banking information or your family’s contact list. You should back all of it up and ensure that it is securely encrypted. That way, even if someone gains access to the database, they can’t unlock your data without specific credentials. iTunes can help you do that with a little effort.
First, you must connect your iPhone to a PC, preferably a Mac. Open iTunes and select your iPhone from the drop-down menu. In the Backups section, tick the box for ‘Encrypt iPhone Backup.’ You can then set the password for your iTunes backup. Please make sure that it is unique and not the same as your email or Apple ID.
5. Monitor privacy settings periodically
Some apps you install on your phone can access your files or peripherals, such as microphones and cameras. That can severely compromise your privacy if those apps can send the data back to their host servers. Even if the apps are disabled, using the widgets can create a backdoor to record time and location data.
Thus, it is vital to monitor privacy settings and switch them periodically as required. You don’t need to check each app. Look at the data usage statistics, and you can observe which apps use network data when they’re not supposed to.
6. Set a strong device passcode
By default, the iPhone has a four-character numeric passcode. While most people are content with it, it is wise to set up a strong password of at least 12 characters in length. Furthermore, you should include as many variations as possible, with both small-case and upper-case letters, numerals, and special characters.
7. Set up two-factor authentication
Even with all the measures mentioned above, your passwords can still get compromised. You can set up 2-factor authentication (2FA) through your email or phone number to ensure that no one gains access to your accounts. It sends a confirmation code for every login session so that you remain aware of unauthorized access.
In the case of iOS, you can set up 2FA through the Privacy & Security tab in Settings. Learn how to set up 2FA for Apple ID.
8. Use Touch ID or Face ID
While passwords can’t make a system recognize you every time, you can have better luck with your biometrics. Most modern iPhones come with a face and fingerprint scanner, allowing you to use your unique biological features to log into your device. iOS can even use that to authorize payments and manage subscriptions. Since you’re not entering a password, it is next to impossible to have anyone else access your iPhone. Although, you should first verify whether your device has the necessary sensors before you decide to use it.
Conclusion
With both the security and hacks ramping up for data breaches, ensuring maximum privacy on your device has become more paramount than ever. We hope this guide to protect your internet activity and identity on iOS gave you new insights into the cause. Remember, 5 minutes of security measures are always worth it to save you thousands in data leaks.