Four iPhone settings you should change

Your iPhone already has tools that can help protect your money, accounts and personal information but the problem is, most people never turn them on. With a personal device, the entire world is in your hands, and if it gets into the wrong ones, you could risk losing everything.

In the event that you lose access to your device, there are a few tips and tricks that will make it easier to prevent losing your data–but you have to enable them first.

Require Face ID for certain apps

Say a stranger comes up to you and asks to borrow your phone, computer, or Wi-Fi, claiming it’s an urgent matter or an emergency. They might explain that they’re lost or need to find a family member. If you decide to give up your unlocked phone, you could end up losing thousands of dollars in a scam.

This is what’s known as a phone-borrowing scam, and it typically involves someone using your phone to gather personal information and exploit it for identity theft, or to transfer money to themselves through mobile banking or payment apps. If you want to help out a stranger, make sure that you require Face ID for certain apps.

1. Press and hold the designated app
2. Tap “Require Face ID,” then confirm

Now, even if someone has your unlocked phone, they can’t open specific apps, like your banking app or peer-to-peer transfer, without your face – saving you time and money trying to get it back.

Guided Access

In the case that you let your child play a game on your phone, you’re showing someone a video or you let a stranger make a call like in the previous situation, Guided Access can be used to temporarily restrict your phone to a single app.

1. Open the settings app
2. Go to accessibility
3. Scroll and select “guided access”
4. Turn the toggle on and select “passcode settings” to set-up a specific pin.
   1. You can use Face-ID or Touch-ID to end or pause this setting.
5. Head to the target app, in the case of lending your phone to someone to make a call, your cellphone app, and triple-click the power button
6. Click start in the top right corner

Turning on this feature will prevent someone from exiting the app you allowed them to enter and perusing your phone, keeping your data private and out of anyone’s hands but your own.

Stolen Device Protection

So, you’ve set up Guided Access and now, the person you let borrow your device can’t exit the app. In the scenario where your phone is lost or stolen, another good rule is to set up stolen device protection.

1. Make sure “Find My” is enabled
2. Go to settings
3. Tap “Face ID and Passcode”
4. Enter your device passcode
5. Turn on stolen device protection

Now, even if a thief knows your passcode or a stranger finds your phone, it’s much harder for them to change your security settings or access critical information.

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

This critical step, also known as two-factor authentication (2FA), is crucial to protecting your data. Your Apple ID controls access to your photos, passwords, backups, and more. If someone gets your password – two-factor authentication can help stop them from taking over your account.

1. Go to settings
2. Tap your name, then sign-in and security
3. Turn on two-factor authentication

After turning on 2FA, make sure that it’s connected to your current phone number.

General Security Tips

Lastly, here are some general tips that’ll work if you have an iPhone or an Android.

• Update phone software: Turn on automatic updates. They typically address weak spots in older software and add more advanced security features to protect against security threats.
• Avoid Public Wi-Fi: Your activity on public networks can be viewed by hackers who can also set up fake “Free Wi-Fi” networks. Instead, use a personal hotspot and consider a VPN.
• Back up data: Use iCloud or Google account backup. If you lose access to your device, you still have your photos and important information stored on a remote server.