June 2021
(Mobile, Consumer, Tech)
Chloe, Senior Contributor
WUDN Customer Service, and a massive Apple geek
How to Protect Your iPhone?
Photo by Onur Binay on Unsplash
Mt's difficult to bypass the security protocols of an iPhone compared to its Android counterparts. Also, Apple claims to have put adequate measures in place to protect the personal data in your iPhone; however, your device is still not 100% secure.
Hackers have come up with ways to siphon your personal data via apps, and they do so by accumulating it daily. This could be in the form of your current location, browsing history, or even passcodes you use for certain apps.
Nonetheless, Apple has no control over the use of data once a certain app has accumulated it. To avoid this, always use updated mac antivirus for free or find one at a premium. This is because some app developers sell the data that the apps have collected. Therefore, it's not only by hacking that your data can be exposed to crooks online.
Fortunately, there are a couple of ways via which you can mitigate the risk, some of which are entirely free. In this article, we will debate some of these techniques so that next time you install an app on your iPhone, your data doesn't end up in the wrong hands.
Some of The Techniques You Can Employ to Keep Your iPhone Safe Include:
Ensure Your Software Variant Is Up to Date.
Avoid Opening Anonymous Links.
Withdraw App Permissions.
Use Lengthy Passcodes for Any App On Your Device.
Ensure Your Software Variant Is Up to Date
Ensure that your device is always running the most recent variant of IOS, including point or minor dot updates. IOS updates are the number one tactic that apple uses to seal loopholes and implement enhanced stability improvements.
Imagine if a hacker finds a vulnerability within Apple's code, they will exploit this flaw. Such a move will, of course, give them access to most if not all of your details, such as bank account credentials.
For instance, in 2019, Apple rolled out a security update patch for IPad and iPhones. This is because the company had discovered some vulnerabilities that could cause devices to be hacked and moved to address this issue.
Avoid Opening Anonymous Links
If you happen to receive an anonymous link via email or text, do not click on it. Such a move can pose a threat to your device. Even though the hacker won't be able to take over your entire device, they can gain access to your email, which could be detrimental.
The web pages that such links redirect to appear to be genuine normally. This kind of rip-off is relatively common, and if you suspect that something is fishy, it would be wise always to trust your instincts in such a scenario.
Withdraw App Permissions
Another technique that you can employ on your iPhone with regard to tackling hackers is withdrawing permissions that certain apps have. For example, when you install an app, you are frequently prompted to give certain permissions such as contacts, location, etc.
Apps require these permissions under the guise that you will enjoy the app to the utmost degree. However, more recent variants of IOS have made it even harder for apps to collect your personal data without your knowledge.
Some of these measures include:
More options with regard to sharing your current location, for instance, Allow once, allow when using app, or don't allow.
You get location reminder notifications and why the app required the given permissions.
Apps are, by default, denied access to the data contained in your notes section.
Use Lengthy Passcodes for Any App On Your Device
You might have heard of a hacking instrument in 2017 called GrayKey. Law agencies were employing this tool to crack passcodes both in IPads and iPhones. It was so lethal that it could bypass a four-digit passcode in a couple of hours and a six-digit passcode in a day's work.
This tool had to be installed in a device and deactivate the typical locks and deferrals that prevent anyone from brute-forcing their way past a device passcode. Such locks and deferrals include the one-minute delay after six incorrect password inputs.
Although you might not have a reason for law enforcement agencies to target your device, the real concern is that if someone developed a tool for governments to bypass devices, similar tools might have been developed, but this time by crooks for crooks.
To mitigate this risk, ensure that the passcodes on your device are lengthy. You can even use capital letters, numbers, and symbols to make it even more difficult for hacker instruments to decipher your passcodes.
Final Thought
All in all, when it comes to iPhone safety concerns, it's easy to conclude that you could never be a victim. However, as illustrated above, it's relatively easy for anyone with an iPhone to be subject to hacks without their knowledge.