How To

How to Secure Your iPhone & iPad (iOS 12)

Tweak Library Team ,

Since online trafficking is switched to smartphone, malicious activities targeting cell phones have increased as well. And if you think that hacking your iPhone, iPad is far-fetched, as giants like Apple pay white hat hackers to find bugs that go unnoticed, then you aren’t completely right! Contrary to all popular belief iPhones, iPads can be hacked.

Here we discuss ways to secure your iPhone, iPad running iOS 12.

From making online purchases to storing personal data smartphones are used for all daily activities. Your iPhone knows more about you then your parents or friends. That’s why it’s important to secure your iPhone, iPad. Latest software update for your Apple devices comes with plenty of security features. Those who are conscious about their privacy iOS 12.1.2 brings various nifty feature that will help to enhance your iPhone, iPad security.

So, what are we waiting for let’s see how to protect your iPhone, iPad from hackers.

How to Protect Your iPhone, iPad from Hackers?

A large amount of valuable personal and sensitive data is carried by you on your iPhone wherever you go. Therefore, securing iPhone is of utmost importance and iOS does a great job.

By making certain changes to your iPhone settings as explained below you can strengthen your devices security and can lock it down. But before we learn how to do it, one-point worth mentioning is that additional security sometimes leads to glitched and hitches in speed, productivity and the way your iPhone works. Added security means compromising with devices speed but it is worth it.

Ways to Protect iPhone from Hackers

1. Setup a Strong Passcode

Key rule of security is to keep unauthorized person out of your device! It doesn’t matter if you are using Face ID or Touch ID. What is important is you should setup and use at least 6-digit passcode. Longer the passcode more secure your device will be.

To set strong password head to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and tap on Passcode Options to see all available options. From here, select either Custom Alphanumeric Code or Custom Numeric Code, or 4-Digit Numeric Code (last option is not recommended as easy is easy to hack and crack.)

2. Enable Automatic iOS Updates

Keeping your iOS device updated with latest software is the best way to protect it from possible attacks. A new feature in iOS 12 allows you to install iOS updates automatically. This means without your intervention your iPhone or iPad’s operating system will always be up-to-date.

To enable, go to Settings > General > Software Update > tap Automatic Updates. Here move the slider to right to enable automatic updates.

3. Control Touch /Face ID Authentication

Want to control what apps or features should work with Touch ID/Face ID. If that is the case you are lucky iOS 12 allows you to do that.

You can change Touch ID/Face ID for:

  • Apple Pay
  • iPhone Unlock
  • Password AutoFill
  • iTunes and App Store

To do so, head to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode/ Face ID & Passcode.

Enter your existing passcode and control Touch ID/Face ID access.

4. Password AutoFill

You may like this killer security feature introduced by Apple in iOS 12.

iOS 12 now offers password autofill feature using the iCloud Keychain and has functionality to connect with third-party password apps like 1Password, LastPass, and Dashlane. This means you get access to your passwords wherever you go on different operating systems.

To enable this feature head to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > AutoFill Passwords. Here move the slider to right to enable AutoFill Passwords and select the password manager you wish to use.

5. Control Accessibility on your locked iPhone or iPad

Control data accessibility on locked iPhone, iPad screen running iOS 12.

Apple’s latest software update iOS 12 allows you to take control of following things:

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

The point here is lesser the accessibility more secure data and device will be. Most useful of all is USB Accessories feature as it stops Lightning port from being accessed by other services if your iPhone or iPad has been locked for more than an hour.

To use the, feature head to Settings > Face (or Touch) ID & Passcode, enter your password when prompted. Now scroll down to ALLOW ACCESS WHEN LOCKED section, from here enable/disable features that you wish to allow/disallow.

Also Read : How To Access Blocked Websites

6. Set brute-force Protection

Prevent unauthorized users from trying, to guess your passcode using iOS 12’s new security feature. After GrayKey incident Apple brings new security feature to limit number of passcodes attempts. After which iPhone’s or iPad’s data will be erased itself.

Head to Settings > Face (Touch) ID & Passcode, enter your passcode. On the next screen scroll down to find Erase Data option. Move the slide towards right to enable to feature.

Once you do so, after 10 failed attempts to unlock your device all your personal data will be erased automatically.

7. Find Reused Passwords in iOS 12

In iOS 12 Apple introduced new password related feature that will not only help you to create strong passwords but will also help you identify if you have reused any password.

To identify reused password in iOS 12 head to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords. Validate using either your Face ID/Touch ID or passcode.

This will display list of passwords, scroll down to see if any password is displaying a grey triangle with an exclamation mark next to it. If you see any entry with it, this means the password is reused and you should change it.  To alter the password, tap Change Password on Website.

8. Reduce lock Screen timeout

For more security set locks screen timeout to minimum. iOS 12 gives you options ranging from 30 seconds to never.

To change auto-lock time head to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock.

9. Restrict biometrics and force Passcode Usage

Like iOS 11, iOS 12 too allows you to disable Touch or Face ID and force passcode usage.

To do so, consecutively press power button for five times (if SOS Emergency calling feature is activated cancel it.)

10. Set up 2-factor Authentication

Another killing security feature to enhance privacy is to set up and use two-factor authentication. This means even if the bad guy has access to your iCloud username and password, he will not be able to login. Because Apple will send an authentication code on the device you’ve chosen without which you cannot login. This helping to deal with major attacks.

To enable head to Settings > and tap your name at the top of the screen > Password & Security, > tap on Two-Factor Authentication.

11. Set a Recovery key

In addition to configuring 2 factor authentication Recovery Key can also be configured.

For this as you did in case of 2 factor authentication head to Settings > tap your name at the top of the screen > Password & Security> choose Two-Factor Authentication and set up a Recovery Key.

Once this key is set you’ll not be able sign into another device nor will be able to reset your password.

12. Disable Redundant Widgets

Even when your iPhone is locked data can be leaked through Widgets. You can either edit widgets or can disable the Today View from being accessed.

Swipe to the right on your iPhone, iPad Home screen into the Today View panel, next scroll to the bottom of the screen and hit Edit. After this you’ll be able to remove any widget from here.

13. Turn on “Find My iPhone”

This feature is a boon for those who worry about their phone or are sometimes careless with things.

To enable this feature head to Settings > tap your name at the top of the screen > head to iCloud > Find My iPhone.

Here, check Send Last Location option so that if battery goes low your device’s last location is sent to Apple thus allowing you to find device when it is dead and lost.

Must Read : How to Reduce Receiving Spam Mails in Your Inbox?

14. Control notification data leakage

Lock screen notifications can reveal your sensitive information. Here’s how to avoid it from happening.

Head to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews alter settings to When Unlocked or Never.

15. Control Location Sharing

Control when and how apps access your location.

For this head to Settings > Privacy > Location Services. From here choose from various options to restrict location sharing.

You can choose between:

  • – Never
  • – While Using the App
  • – Always

Each app also gives you short description of how if uses your location data.

16. Customize Safari Browser

If you prefer using Safari on your iOS, you can customize its security settings as Apple offers a number of them in iOS 12.

For this go to Settings > Safari. Here you’ll see various options using which you can block pop-up, stop cross site tracking and more.

Using these small tweaks, you can protect your iPhone, iPad running iOS 12 from hackers. You might face some performance issues but due to it don’t stop using the security features. These features added to iOS 12 are for your data and device security.

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