If you have an iPhone, it is wise to constantly think about your privacy. With our iPhone privacy guide, you can keep all your data safe.
iPhone privacy guide
Your iPhone is a personal device because it stores a large part of your life. Your conversations take place there, your photos are on it, your banking affairs are arranged and so on. All in all, it contains a lot of information that you would like to keep private. That is why it is wise to think extra carefully about your iPhone privacy. In this guide we will go through a number of levels. From the basics to tips to take that extra step.
The basics: lock your iPhone
There are a few actions that seem so obvious that you may not even think about them. Still, they are important, because these tools serve as the first line of defense.
It all starts with the lock of your iPhone. You do this with a six-digit PIN (six is ​​more secure than four) and with Touch ID or Face ID. It’s easy to set up Face ID or Touch ID on your new iPhone.
There have been reports in the news that facial recognition such as Face ID is unsafe, but iPhone facial recognition is much more secure than a PIN.
The next step: location, apps and updates
If your iPhone is properly locked, it is time for the next step: your location. Many apps would like to have access to the location services, so that they can see exactly where you are at what time. Read our tips to curb sharing your iPhone location data.
And do you know what apps on your iPhone can view further? Go to the settings app and scroll down. There you will find the apps that are installed. Tap the apps to see what connections they have with other apps. For more information, read our overview on how to protect your personal data per app.
Keeping your iPhone up to date is also important for your privacy. Each update provides better security for your device, so you can be sure that no one can watch. Turn on automatic updates by going to the Settings app, choosing General> Software Update and turning on ‘Automatic Updates’ there.
Also important: Your accounts
You probably use all kinds of different accounts on your iPhone. Of course you have an Apple ID, to access iCloud and the App Store, but also think about your social media accounts, the account for your bank, your email and so on. These accounts likely contain all kinds of information that is not intended for other eyes. That is why there are a number of things to keep in mind.
The most important thing is to choose strong passwords: a different password for each account and a longer password is better than a shorter password. iOS 12 lends a hand by automatically creating and saving strong passwords as an iCloud keychain. You can also use a password manager for these passwords, so that the passwords are also available on other devices. You just need to remember the master password for the password app.
But no matter how strong a password is, it can always be cracked. That’s why it’s important to set up two-factor authentication for all your accounts. iPhoned explains what two-factor verification is and what you need for it.
Extra steps
Now that you have the basics, it is time for the next step. Think about the notifications on your phone. If people are watching your screen, the notifications can leak a lot of information. In the Settings app, go to ‘Notifications’ and choose ‘When unlocked’ or ‘Never’ under ‘Show preview’.
If you are ever on a WiFi hotspot, for example in a restaurant, cafe or train, it is wise to set up a VPN. A VPN ensures that your connection is rerouted and that people cannot just watch your behavior. Setting up a VPN on your iPhone is easier than you think.
Do you also surf via Safari? Then you can stop ad trackers from following you. Advertising companies use these trackers to build a profile of you in order to offer you more targeted advertisements. You can switch that off via the Settings app. To do this, go to ‘Privacy’ and ‘Advertising’ at the bottom. Set the switch at ‘limit ad tracking’ to green.
Pro tips
If you really want to take the ultimate step, then you have to follow these tips. For example, it is possible to have your phone delete all data if the wrong PIN code is entered ten times. To do this, go to ‘Touch ID / Face ID and access code’ in the Settings app, enter your access code and switch to ‘Clear data’ at the bottom of the switch. Rest assured, if you press this switch, all your data will not be deleted immediately.
Since iOS 12, it is also possible to prohibit accessories from connecting to your iPhone as long as your iPhone has been locked for more than an hour. This ensures that a thief or perhaps the police cannot access your information via USB. To set this up, go to the settings app, select ‘Touch ID / FaceId and access code’, enter your access code and turn the switch to the left at ‘USB accessories’ at the bottom of the switch.
In addition to iOS, you should also think about your privacy with the apps you use. With these five handy Facebook privacy tips you can maintain your privacy on this social network.
Read more articles in our beginner’s guide
- Bought a new iPhone? This way you transfer all data securely (27-10-2020)
- 5 tips to organize your iPhone home screen and keep it tidy (14-4-2020)
- 8 tips to get the most out of the iPhone’s default Camera app (28-11-2019)
- 3D Touch explained: this is how it works, and everything you need to know (1/30/2019)
- 10 alternatives that are better than Apple’s default apps (23-1-2019)