5 tips to make your iPhone super safe
December 15, 2015
The iPhone is very safe device and after introducing Apple ID and password to access the system, hardly anyone will be able to obtain any inside information from the device. Later, with the new biometric reading system, which appeared in the iPhone 5S, there is no need to put password to increase the protection of data on the iPhone. But as the saying goes, better safe than sorry, so we provide you with 5 tips to make your iPhone super safe.
If we lose the iPhone, hardly anyone will do something with it. Of course we are not saying that it is impossible to get access to our data and even unlock (although until now there were more theories than actual evidences given), in this world nothing is impossible.
Follow these steps and your iPhone will become a “bunker” and the information inside your device will be well protected.
Use Access Code
To use the access code on the iPhone is essential. The latest models with biometric reader Touch ID, facilitate this process but still require having a code. Earlier it was the 4 digits code, now with new iOS 9 it became a 6 digits. You can improve the access code by using numbers, letters and even symbols to make it more difficult for those who will try to get inside.
To enable, change, and do various other actions, go to settings > Touch ID & Passcode. Click to enter and click on the Enable passcode option. Now put the 6-digit code. You can change the code, turning to the less secure option of 4-digit PIN, and you can also use a custom alphanumeric code. For this, next to the numeric keypad, click the Passcode Option as you can see on the image above.
Disable options on the lock screen
Even with a robust password, Siri can provide with valuable information about what we have in the iPhone and it can be exploited by those who found or stole our iPhone. So to keep Siri silent, let’s turn off the virtual assistant on the lock screen.
To do this go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and scroll to the ALLOW ACCESS WHEN LOCKED field and disable Siri and Wallet. You can also disable Notifications View and Today. We suggest to disable all of it, so nobody has anything to do with your personal information if you lose your phone. However, it’s up to your decision.
Disable Control Center on the lock screen
Other way of hackers to have access to your iPhone or at least to buy some time to get around the blocking password is to activate the flight mode form the Control Center. This way the owners of the iPhone cannot know where is the smartphone through the Find My iPhone application. Some people even suggest to turn off the SIM card PIN request so that when the iPhone is immediately connected it will inform where it is now( of course people can remove the SIM card and use it on another phone, but at least you will know who have your iPhone).
To avoid that somebody can disable mobile network, mainly because they are not smart enough to remove the SIM card immediately let’s disable the Control Center on the lock screen.
To do this go to Settings > Control Center and disable the option Access on Lock Screen.
Activate Find My iPhone
We have talked frequently about this Apple tool. There are thousands of cases all over the world where this tool helps you to find your stolen or lost iPhone. Even if you ignore three previous tips, it is very important that this tool is always enabled. There are some people that afraid that their wives or girlfriends will locate them! Of course, they will go to online iCloud account and of course they know your login and password to login and locate the iPhone. If you do not want it to happen, just keep your account access information only for yourself.
Of course this tool is very important because you will be able to monitor the location of your stolen or lost iPhone through online iCloud.com service (or even via the app on another iPhone or iPad). You will be able know where is your iPhone, how much battery it has and can do a few more actions, such as change or put a passcode, delete content and disable the iPhone and something very useful – trigger a sound notification that will work even if the iPhone’s volume is turned off.
To enable Find My iPhone go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone and enable it.
Activate two- step authentication in Apple ID
The last stronghold of Apple users is the Apple ID. Hackers, thieves and bad guys will not be able to do anything with stolen iPhone.
Some time ago, specifically in March 2013, Apple added an additional layer of security for Apple ID service. Since then users can enable two-step authentication – a process that enables increased security for users. For this, users will have to introduce an additional code together with the password for Apple ID service.
How to enable two-step authentication in Apple ID
- Access the website of management of My Apple ID and authenticate
- Select Password and Security
- Check the 2-steps authentication, select Start and follow the instructions
After the activation the user can only rely on his password and security code for authentication. All security issues will no longer be displayed.
In short
Follow these tips, have your iOS updated and you can be sure that those who steal or find your lost iPhone will not go far. Many of the iPhones are being sold for cheap prices, because they cannot be unlocked, so they selling them for parts. Beware that many people want to do business with stolen iPhones that are useless because they are blocked. We hope your iPhone will never be lost or stolen, but once again, better be safe than sorry!