8 Critical iPhone and iPad Security Features That You Need to Set Up Right Now

Security and convenience are always at perpetual war with each other when it comes to mobile devices. The more convenient a phone is for storing data, the easier it is for someone else to break in and get their hands on that. Thankfully, iPhones and iPads have a better balance of these two aspects, which is one of their top advantages. It is still considered as one of the most secure operating systems available for consumers, with its two-step authentication process, i.e., Touch ID and Face ID accompanied by strong passwords.

Here are some of the iPad security settings that you should know about, to provide enhanced protection and security to your data and device. You can use these features to enhance the security settings of your iPhone as well:

1. Turn on the Restricted Mode in USB

This new feature prevents external accessories like headphones and USB cable from connecting to your device when your iPad or iPhone has been locked for at least or more than an hour. This difficult-to-find feature prevents hackers from using tools and tricks to bypass the passcode of your lock screen and get your data.

To enable this, go to “Settings > Touch ID & Passcode” and then type in your passcode. To make sure that the USB accessories settings are not permissible on the lock screen, scroll down and turn that setting off. On iPhone X, you have to instead click on the Face ID settings.

2. Make sure that Automatic iOS Updates are turned on

Every time you update your iPhone or iPad, it comes with a series of security patches to ensure the enhanced functioning of your device and prevent data theft. Yet, most people don’t bother to update their devices often, unless it is a major update. The new setting in iOS 12 will update the device for you, saving you the downtime. Just make sure to turn it on. Also make sure to keep apps up to date from the App Store to ensure you have the latest version of all apps, as developers keep fixing bugs and issues on a regular basis.

To do so, tap on “Settings > General > Software Update” and select ON for Automatic Updates.

3. Safeguard with a more robust device passcode

In recent years, iOS has gotten better with passcodes. For quite some years, users could only set a passcode of four digits. Now, you can set a six-figure passcode, by default. That makes it far more difficult for hackers to guess your passcode through every combination. For enhanced security, Apple has an in-built brute force protection, to block the attempts of any unauthorized user from trying to guess your passcode.

Did you also know that, if you set a number-only passcode, it can be of any length? This means it can be of 10 digits, 12 digits or even alphanumeric. While unlocking the screen, it keeps the number keypad on the screen itself, so you do not have to fiddle around in the keyboard to enter it. Apart from just a number passcode, you can even set a proper password, combining alphabets and numerals.

Click on “Settings > Touch ID & Passcode” and after that, enter the passcode. Then, tap on Change password, and create a Random Numeric or Alphanumeric Code.

4. Turn on the Two Factor Authentication

The two-factor authentication feature of Apple is one of the best ways of securing your account. If someone even manages to get hold of your password, they will still need your device to break into your account. Unlocking your iPad or iPhone through the two-factor feature has been annoying and cumbersome for years. To avoid that, the iOS 12 comes with an exclusive feature that auto-fills the necessary codes. This takes the cumbersome steps out of the equation, thus making the whole process convenient and your account more secure.

To set the Two Factor Authentication, click on Settings, tap on your name, and then tap on Password & Security. After that, click on Turn on Two-Factor Authentication and follow the next steps.

5. Modify the Reused Passwords

The password manager of iOS 12 comes with a new feature called password auditing. Its job is to detect if you have used the same password on multiple sites. On discovering that, it will warn and advise you to change those passwords. It does so to block password reuse attacks that hackers employ for breaking into multiple sites and services, by applying the same password and username.

Tap on “Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords” and then type in your passcode. After that, you will see a small warning symbol for each of the accounts that have a reused password. Click on the Change Password on Website option, and you are done.

Read Also – 15 iPhone Secret Tips and Hacks that You Should Know About

6. Control Access when the iPad or iPhone is Locked

Take control of how much or how little information should be accessible on a locked device. The iOS 13 is enabled to give you control on the access of the following:

• Notification Center
• Today View
• Control Center
• Reply with Message
• Siri
• Wallet
• Home Control
• Accessories
• Return Missed Call

Go to Settings and then click on Touch ID & Passcode or Face ID & Passcode and then type your existing passcode, to use this feature.

7. Siri

Siri is an accommodating assistant, but if the voice activation of “Hey Siri” is on, anyone can use it to communicate with your device and try to get access to your personal data through it. They can send messages, take calls, and do even more. It will be a safe idea to turn off the “Hey Siri” voice activation feature and activate it only by pressing the side button of the device as required. You can turn off the voice activation by going to Settings and clicking on the Siri & Search. After that, you can choose to keep “Hey Siri” activable or not activable, when the device is locked.

8. Airdrop

Often, in crowded places, people with iPads and iPhones try to send files through Airdrop. These files can be malicious for your device if accepted by mistake. To avert such accidents, click on “Settings > General > AirDrop”, and then select Contacts Only. This will permit only the people from your contacts list and not strangers to send you files and links. You can set it to Everyone on a temporary basis, in case you need to share items with a group of people who are not in your contacts list, but you should never keep it like that permanently. If you do not intend to use Airdrop at all, you can select Receiving Off.

So by using the above features, you can enhance the security setting of your iPad or iPhone device. If you encounter issues while using your device, do contact a reputable iPad Repair Center and get the issue fixed.