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How to secure your iPhone from hackers, snoopers, and thieves (iOS 12.1)

Your iPhone and iPad is likely packed with important, valuable, and even sensitive information that you might not want others to be able to access. Here are the steps you should take to lock down an iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.1.
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer
Introduction
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Why secure your device?

People carry a huge amount of very valuable personal information around with them everywhere they go on their iPhones. And while iOS does a great job of keeping their data safe, it's possible to make the device a lot more secure.

Here are settings you should check (and change) and tweaks you should make to harden the security and lock down your device.

One point worth making is that added security always puts speed bumps in the way of productivity, and added additional steps -- and a few seconds -- to doing things. Security is always a compromise, but in my mind, added security is always worth the small downsides that come from it.

Set a strong passcode
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Start with a strong passcode

Security all starts by keeping people out of your device!

No matter whether you use Touch ID or Face ID, you still need a passcode, and the longer the passcode you can use -- and remember! -- the better.

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode on iPhones with Face ID), enter your existing passcode, and then tap on Passcode Options to get a set of options. Choose between Custom Alphanumeric Code (the most secure) or Custom Numeric Code (second best option), or 4-Digit Numeric Code (I don't recommend this last option because it's easy for shoulder-surfers to see what your PIN code is).

Control what Touch ID/Face ID is used to authenticate
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Control what Touch ID/Face ID is used to authenticate

Do you want the convenience of Touch ID or Face ID, or do you rather the additional protection that having to enter your passcode offers? Again, it's balancing security against convienience.

iOS 12 allows you to switch Touch ID/Face ID on and off for:

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

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode on iPhones with Face ID), enter your existing passcode to control this.

Password AutoFill and third-party password managers
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Password AutoFill and third-party password managers

This, in my mind, is the killer security feature that Apple introduced in iOS 12.

iOS 12 now comes with both a password autofill feature using the iCloud Keychain and has the ability to connect to third-party password apps such as LastPass, Dashlane, and 1Password. This means that you can get access to your passwords across a variety of operating systems.

You can find this feature in Settings > Passwords & Accounts > AutoFill Passwords.

Control access to what's accessible when the iPhone or iPad is locked
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Control access to what's accessible when the iPhone or iPad is locked

Control how much - or how little - you want to be accessible on a locked device. iOS 12 gives control over the following:

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

The bottom line is that the more you lock down, the more secure your device and data will be. The USB Accessories feature is especially useful, because it will prevent the Lightning port being used to connect to any accessory if your iPhone or iPad has been locked for more than an hour.

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode on iPhones with Face ID), enter your existing passcode to control this.

Set brute-force protection
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Set brute-force protection

Check for password reuse
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Use iOS to check for password reuse

Set up two-factor authentication
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Disable unnecessary widgets
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Disable unnecessary widgets

Widgets can leak data even when your iPhone is locked. You can either disable the Today View from being accessible when your device is locked (see earlier tip: Control access to what's accessible when the iPhone or iPad is locked), or you can edit the widgets as follows:

Swipe to the right on the Home screen into the Today View panel, and then scroll to the bottom of the screen and hit Edit. Now, you can remove any panel that you do not need.

Activate "Find My iPhone"
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Turn on "Find My iPhone"

Control notification data leakage
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