Of course you use the iPad everywhere. At home on the couch, in an easy chair at the campsite or on the way in the train. But the flat size can make you lose sight of the device. Secure iPad with iOS 13 or later against theft and unwanted use.
Screensaver on the iPad
Screen lock puts a digital lock on a device. It can only be unlocked with the access code. This way you ensure that not just anyone can use your iPad. There are several ways to lock an iPad:
- The simplest way is with a number code. How to set this up can be found in the tip ‘Passcode on the iPad/iPhone’.
- You can also secure and unlock the device using a fingerprint. So no hassle with remembering a code. Read the “Screen Saver for iPad and iPhone” tip for instructions.
- Newer iPads can be secured through facial recognition. How to do that, explains the article ‘Secure a device with facial recognition’.
Automatically snooze
Through Screen and brightness (from iOS14/iPadOS 14) or Display and brightness (iOS 13/iPadOS 13) you will find the option Automatic lock. That term is a bit unfortunate because it doesn’t quite cover it all. With this setting you do not control that the iPad is locked, but that it automatically goes into sleep mode. It will not switch off, but will go into an energy-saving mode. You can choose to snooze the device after ‘2 minutes’, ‘5 minutes’, ’10 minutes’, ’15 minutes’ or ‘Never’. Choose the setting you like.
As far as security is concerned, it is recommended to use this automatic lock in combination with an access code. Anyone who tries to use the iPad in an unguarded moment will have to unlock it first. You can regain access to the device by unlocking the screen saver.
Updating the operating system
We recommend that you install new updates to the iPad operating system. These updates often also contain changes that are relevant to the security of the iPad. To check if the latest version is present on the iPad:
- Tap on Institutions > General > software update.
- You will only see the option to do so if you have not yet installed the most recent version. Tap on Download and install to install the update. But back up your files first.
Update apps
New versions of the apps that are on the iPad may also appear. Make it a habit to update it regularly. This can be done automatically or manually. Read how this works in the tip ‘Update apps on iPad/iPhone’.
Antivirus on the iPad?
You don’t have to worry about malicious software on the iPad. Apple strictly monitors all programs that are released in the App Store. So all apps have been extensively checked by Apple. Furthermore, the iPad is made in such a way that all apps work independently of each other and do not have access to other parts of the device. Therefore, an antivirus program for the iPad is not necessary.
Spam and phishing
The iPad does not protect you from spam and phishing. The usual general rules apply: use common sense, do not tap on suspicious links and never be tempted to pass on privacy-sensitive information, such as your PIN code.
Read more about phishing and spam in these articles:
- Phishing: don’t fall for it!
- fake emails
Which internet network is safe?
If you connect to the internet at home via WiFi, you usually have a secure connection. This means that you can only access the Wi-Fi network after you have entered a password. Others cannot access your network. So you can, for example, simply do internet banking with the secure network. Along the way you sometimes encounter unsecured connections. These pose a risk: others can watch without you noticing. That is no problem if you only surf on Seniorweb.nl or Nu.nl. But on a public, unsecured network, it is better not to perform internet banking or other privacy-sensitive matters.
Read in the tip ‘Set up network on iPad’ how to connect to WiFi on the iPad. And do you want to know more about what to look out for when using a public network? Then read the tip ‘Use the internet safely while on the road’.
Lost or stolen iPad
Set the ‘Find My’ function to be able to find the iPad. You can then see from a distance where the device is. Read more about it in the article ‘Locate an iPad or iPhone with the Find My app’.