Have you ever lost your Apple device and felt your heart skipping a beat? A stolen or missing phone can ruin anyone’s day because if your device falls into the wrong hands, you might risk losing your photos and sensitive information. Luckily, you can easily improve your Apple security to avoid this.
What exactly can you do to ensure that all your Apple devices are secure?
We offer five simple ways to increase the protection of all your gadgets and safeguard your data from prying eyes.
Here are five simple steps that can help boost your Apple security:
1. Choose a strong passcode
It is important to set a passcode – a combination of unique numbers you must enter every time you unlock your iPhone – to protect your device from unauthorized access. To ensure better security, avoid using the most popular passcodes like 1234 or 0000. They are easy to guess and may not protect your device if it falls into the wrong hands.
So, set up a strong passcode that consists of 4-6 digits. Note that the longer the passcode, the harder it is for the wrongdoers to guess it!
Unfortunately, if someone manages to guess your passcode, they may hack into your Apple ID account and other services connected to it, like Apple Music or iCloud.
Therefore, it is just as important to set a complex password for your Apple ID account to safeguard private and sensitive information.
[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#0d8381″ size=”1″ margin=”25″]
2. Use Face ID or Touch ID
Face ID and Touch ID are two quick authentication methods that can be used to securely unlock your phone, complete payments, and sign in to other applications.
Face ID provides secure authentication with advanced technology that precisely identifies the unique geometry of your face. Needless to say, a random person could never mimic your features and use that to unlock your phone’s screen.
Alternatively, Touch ID uses a different technology to let you unlock your phone – it detects your fingerprint. Touch ID accurately maps out the structure of your finger and stores that data to identify a match and unlock your device.
Since every fingerprint is unique, it is a low probability – 1 in 50,000 – that an outsider could unlock your iPhone. Therefore, you can be relatively sure that the data you store on your device that’s protected with a Touch ID is safe.
[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#0d8381″ size=”1″ margin=”25″]
3. Use a VPN
If you want to keep your data safe online, you may use a VPN (virtual private network) service. VPN provides you with a secure internet connection no matter where you are.
How does a VPN work? It hides your IP address and allows you to browse the internet anonymously. This means that your internet service provider and other parties – possibly hackers – cannot track your online activity.
Moreover, a VPN encrypts your internet connection if you use public WiFi, for example, at a cafe or an airport. So you can share information and process important payments securely.
Please note, however, that not all VPNs are created equally. You need to review your options and employ a VPN that is strong and does not leak private information.
[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#0d8381″ size=”1″ margin=”25″]
4. Enable ‘Find My’ App
Have you ever lost your phone and panicked about having your data stolen? You can avoid this awful situation using the Find My application.
The Find My application was built to help people find their missing devices, whether that’s an iPhone, an Apple Watch or another mobile Apple gadget. You can even add devices that belong to your family members or friends to help them locate their devices should they get lost.
The application also comes with an Activation Lock, which ensures that outsiders cannot use your Apple device without entering the right Apple ID and password. Conveniently, this functionality is enabled automatically when you switch on your Find My app.
Another important feature is that you can remotely erase your data via the Find My app so that no one can access your information even if they manage to hack into your device. Of course, if you want to enjoy these benefits, you must set up the Find My app before your device gets missing!
[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#0d8381″ size=”1″ margin=”25″]
5. Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA), or two-step verification, is another important measure you should consider if you want to secure your Apple devices. The most significant advantage of 2FA is that even if someone accesses your password, it won’t be enough to breach your Apple ID account.
In other words, 2FA ensures that you are the only person who can access your account. How? When you attempt to sign in to your Apple ID account from a new device, it will ask you to provide your password and a six-digit verification code.
You usually receive the code to your phone number; therefore, you should have at least one verified phone number. You can also verify additional phone numbers, for example, one that belongs to a close family member, so that they could share a verification code in case you end up losing your own phone.
[su_divider top=”no” divider_color=”#0d8381″ size=”1″ margin=”25″]
Conclusion:
Whether you have one Apple device or many of them, it is crucial to take appropriate measures to secure them from unauthorized access. In case you lose your device or someone steals it, there is a great chance that they could attempt to hack into your personal accounts or even steal your virtual identity.
Although you cannot prevent an Apple device from being lost or stolen, you certainly can boost its security. The least you can do is set up a strong passcode required when unlocking a device. Undeniably, a strong password for your Apple ID account will further protect your sensitive information from being accessed by malicious parties.
It is also a good idea to enable two-factor authentication and install a reliable VPN application on your Apple devices. Finally, set up the Find My app and backup just to be ready for the worst-case scenario.
Ultimately, if you take your device and data protection seriously and employ the discussed security measures to ensure maximum protection, you can efficiently increase your own virtual security.
