In the beginning,
Apple products were tall, wide and attractive to cyberattacks. Average hackers
found the company's proprietary software nearly impossible to crack, and the
attack surface of an Apple product was almost non-existent. But over the years,
those attack surfaces got bigger, and hackers and their tools got more
sophisticated. A big target for hackers has always been the iPhone because most
users live their lives on that handy little device, and most keep their
sensitive 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, the 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. Vigilance and a few security
precautions can stop most of the attacks that threaten our mobile lifestyle.
Follow these tips to stay safe. Here are 10 tips to save an iPhone from hacking.
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. Hand in hand with
this practice, you should also keep your apps up to date. All software on the
device must be its latest version.
Set a passcode
Create a complex
passcode to unlock your phone and feel free to make it longer than the standard
4 digits. You'll find the options for this in Settings > Face ID &
Password > Change Password.
Consider the automatic deletion
clause.
At the bottom of the
Face ID and password settings is the "Clear data" option. If you
enable this, your phone will automatically wipe all data on the device after 10
failed password attempts. It's a harsh measure, but it potentially saves lives.
Just make sure to back up your data regularly if you go this route.
Check app permissions and keep an
eye out for fake apps
In the Privacy
settings, you can review the permissions you have granted to each app. Click on
the permission and it will show you which apps are accessing it. Make sure they
all make sense. For example, if a flashlight app requires access to your
photos, that's a red flag and you should remove that app immediately.
Avoid joining Wi-Fi networks
automatically
In your Wi-Fi
settings, set Ask 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 area network. 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're not sure or have a bad feeling about the location, turn
off your Wi-Fi when you're away.
Install anti-phishing security
Phishing scams have
gotten so clever that many people can't tell the difference between a real
website and a fake website. Cybersecurity apps will detect phishing sites and
alert you. Avast is launching a redesigned Avast Mobile Security and Privacy
for iOS, and we're including some useful new features like 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 risk associated with public Wi-Fi. Use the
VPN when you are in a coffee shop or in a public place, and you will have an
encrypted tunnel between you and the Internet. Cybercriminals will not be able
to see you. Avast Mobile Security and Privacy for iOS comes equipped with a VPN
for this very purpose.
Enable two-factor authentication.
In the password and
security settings for your Apple ID and iCloud, turn on Two-Factor
Authentication. This gives you an extra layer of protection in case someone
tries to crack your Apple data.
Disable Siri in locked mode
Technically, anyone
can do a command or get data from Siri on your device if it's enabled in locked
mode. Disabling it ensures that you are the sole master of your device. You can
find the control to disable Siri from locked mode in both the Siri settings and
the Face ID and password settings.
Wipe your data before selling the
device
Many people forget to do this. Even if you're donating your old phone to a family member, you should erase all of its content and settings. Also, remove the device from your Apple account and unpair all connected devices.