May 20, 2020

10 tips to keep your iOS devices beautiful, but not indecipherable. Protect them with these tips.

At first, Apple products were tall, wide, and attractive to cyber attacks. The average hacker found the company's proprietary software nearly impossible to crack, and the attack surface of an Apple product was almost nonexistent. But over the years, those attack surfaces became larger, and the hackers and their tools became more sophisticated. A big target for hackers has always been the iPhone because most users live their lives on that small, useful device, and most keep their confidential data stored on their Apple-branded hardware.

These days, everything is hackable, and each of us has a responsibility to take the appropriate steps to protect ourselves. Gone are the days when the default settings were good enough. (Actually, researchers would argue that the default settings were never good enough.)

But here's the good news: it's not hard to protect our devices. Surveillance and some security precautions can stop most of the attacks that threaten our mobile lifestyle.

Follow these tips to stay safe.

10 tips to keep your iOS device safe

Keep it up to date

Keeping your iOS up to date is essential for device security. New versions of iOS are released to fix bugs, patch vulnerabilities, and address the latest threats. Along with this practice, you should also keep your applications up to date. All device software should be the latest version.

Establish an access code

Create a complex access code to unlock your phone and feel free to make it longer than the standard 4 digits. You can find the options for this in Settings > Face ID & Password > Change Password.

Consider the auto-delete clause.

At the bottom of Face ID and Password settings is "Clear Data" option. If you enable this, your phone will automatically erase all data from the device after 10 failed password attempts. This is a severe measure, but potentially saves lives. Just make sure you back up your data regularly if you follow this route.

Check application permissions and watch out for bogus applications

In the Privacy settings, you can review the permissions you have given to each application. Click on the permission and it will show you which applications are accessing it. Make sure they all make sense. For example, if a flashlight application requires access to your photos, that's a red flag and you should delete that application immediately.

Avoid joining Wi-Fi networks automatically

In your Wi-Fi settings, set Request to Join Networks permission to "Ask. This causes your phone to ask you before joining an open network. Remember that a common criminal tactic is to set up malicious networks using names that closely resemble the legitimate network in the area. Whenever your device is connected to Wi-Fi, pay attention to the name of the network and make sure it's the one you want to join. If you are unsure or have a bad feeling about the location, turn off your Wi-Fi when you are away.

Install anti-phishing security

Phishing scams have become so clever that many people cannot distinguish between a real website and a fake website. Cybersecurity applications will detect phishing sites and alert you. Avast is launching a redesigned Avast Mobile Security and Privacy for iOS , and we are including some useful new features such as Web Protection, which protects against phishing sites and other malicious URLs with real-time anti-phishing protection.

Use a VPN

Installing a VPN on your device can greatly reduce any risks associated with the public Wi-Fi connection. Use the VPN when you're in the cafe or a public place, and you'll have an encrypted tunnel between you and the Internet. The cybercriminals won't be able to see you. Avast Mobile Security and Privacy for iOS comes equipped with a VPN for this same purpose. You can visit https://ip-locations.org/ to locate your IP and find the best vpn.

It enables two-factor authentication.

In your Apple ID and iCloud password and security settings, enable Two-Factor Authentication. This gives you an extra layer of protection in case someone tries to decrypt your Apple data.

Disable Siri in Locked Mode

Technically, anyone can make a command or obtain data from Siri on your device if it is enabled in locked mode. Disabling it ensures that you are the only master on your device. You can find the control to disable Siri from the locked mode in both the Siri settings and the Face ID and Password settings.

Clean up your data before selling the device

A lot of people forget to do this. Even if you are donating your old phone to a family member, you should delete all your content and settings. Also, delete the device from your Apple account and unlink all connected devices.

We love our iPhones and iPads, and there's no reason we can't continue to enjoy them for the wonderful and amazing devices they are. We just have to make sure we protect them the right way. Take the time to familiarize yourself with all the settings and security measures on your device, and set them up so you're as safe as possible. Follow the tips above and you'll always be a few steps ahead of any mobile threat.