Apple’s mobile operating system allows you to manage how apps access your data and what they can do with it. Follow the guide.
Do you want to protect your privacy? So you have to be careful because a lot of personal information stored on your iPhone or iPad can be used by applications or services, or even by Apple. Fortunately, iOS version 11 has a lot of settings to control what is allowed out of your device. Here’s how to get there:
1 – Access the settings
Tap the settings icon, shaped like a gear, then tap Confidentiality to access the privacy settings.
2 – Check the location
Tap on Localization service to access the service settings. A switch can be used to deactivate the service if you do not want your location to be known, or even to block the location for a specific app.
At a minimum, make sure that the installed applications do not access your position in the background, at all times. So choose When the app is active rather than Always.
You can also turn off location sharing by tapping Share my location and by flipping the switch of the same name.
It is also possible to define which device shares the position, or even to delete a device by moving your finger from right to left on its name.
3 – Block the sending of improvement data
This other parameter concerns system services. Scroll down to view data sent to Apple for product improvement.
You can then turn off the various switches to block the sending of data.
4 – Disable analysis data
Improving Apple’s products and services is also about sharing analytical data. If you don’t want this data sent to Apple, go to privacy settings, then scroll down and tap To analyse.
Toggle the switches off Share iPhone scan and Share iCloud scan. Other sharing switches may also be present depending on your configuration.
5 – Modify the rights of each application
Each installed app can have access to items such as your contacts, calendars, camera, and microphone. During installation, a window appears asking you to allow access. But you can also act afterwards. To do this, tap on the item that interests you, for example contacts in the example below.
You then have a list of all the apps that use this element and you can grant or revoke the rights by flipping the switch on the app.
Warning ! Disabling this access could hinder or complicate certain uses or certain interactions with the applications for which you will have limited rights.
6 – Change the Safari settings
Safari is the iOS browser and an essential part of protecting your privacy. Its settings can be changed. To do this, select Safari in the list of system settings.
Go to the section Privacy and Security. To surf safely, activate the switches Prevent cross-site tracking, Block all cookies and Do not follow my activities.
You can also prevent Safari from using Camera and microphone and receive an alert if you are browsing a fraudulent website.
7 – Protect your notifications
When we think of “notifications”, we sometimes forget that among all these little daily alerts are very personal messages. A parent’s text message, a friend’s WhatsApp message, or even a loved one’s ardent response.
While iPhone X users can go back to sleep – they’re protected by default as long as Face ID is in the game – iOS 11 users on earlier iPhone models can now protect notifications received from possible inquiring eyes.
See you in Settings, then tap Notifications.
You are then faced with the interface which lists all the installed applications likely to display notifications. At the top of the interface, go to Show previews.
You then have the choice between three options. The recommended solution, the one that offers the best compromise between security of your data and practicality, is If unlocked. This means that you will be notified of a new message, but its content will only be readable if you unlock the iPhone, either with Touch ID or by entering your passcode.