If we have upgraded our iPhone to iOS 12 here’s how to protect our device and our privacy by changing some settings
Have you just installed iOS 12, Apple’s new mobile operating system, on your iPhone or iPad and now you’re wondering what default settings to change to improve your cybersecurity and privacy? Perfect, you’ve arrived in the guide that’s right for you.
When we update our operating system, whether on Android or iOS, some security and privacy settings may change, based on new features present in the latest generation OS that were not present, or were present in a different way, in the old version. This means that if we want to protect our information after downloading an update of an operating system, and in this case of iOS 12, we must spend a few minutes to set some special settings to make sure that our data is always safe from prying eyes. So here’s what to change in iOS 12 to defend our privacy.
Set the password manager
In iOS 12 we find a new way to manage passwords (even with third-party apps) and the automatic filling of credential fields. With Cupertino’s new mobile operating system we will be able to manage Autofill passwords and password manager apps with a single setting. To do this let’s go to Settings > Passwords and accounts> Autofill. Here we will find two or more entries. The first one, iCloud Keychain, allows us to automatically save and enter, if enabled, our passwords registered on the Apple account. Under this item we will find the password management app(s) we have installed on our iPhone or iPad, such as LastPass, Dashlane and 1Password. To enable automatic service of both services we put a check mark on the words iCloud Keychain and the name of the password manager app installed and displayed in the list.
Enable automatic updates
In iOS 12 we find the possibility to enable automatic updates. This is a good choice to receive new versions and especially security patches of Apple OS quickly. To enable automatic updates we go to Settings, then General, then Update and finally move the check to ON next to the words Automatic Updates.
Manage Face ID and Touch ID
Facial recognition or fingerprint detection? That’s the dilemma. Not anymore on iOS 12. In fact, we can set one of the two biometric sensors to do only certain things. For example, we’ll pay with Apple Pay using the fingerprint and instead unlock the screen with our face. To manage the actions to be performed with Face ID and Touch ID, just go to Settings, then Touch ID and Code and, in the tab that will open, set a custom unlock system for each option.
Set automatic reset in case of theft
They’ve stolen our iPhone and now all our data is at risk. To avoid being in this unpleasant situation from the already mentioned section Touch ID and code we enable the Clear Data function. This will be activated only and only in one case: when someone will mistake our secret PIN for unlocking the screen for more than 10 times. In practice, if we lose the iPhone and the thief tries to access it before he can, the phone automatically recognizes the excessive attempts and erases any information on the device.
Enable two-factor authentication on iCloud
The best way to protect our iCloud account is to set up two-factor authentication. Basically, even if a hacker stole our password, he would have no way to access our account because he would not have the verification code that will arrive on our iPhone. To activate this feature on iOS 12 we go to Settings then Password and Security and press on Two-Factor Authentication.
Beware of the location you share
Apps are always trying to find out where we are in order to provide us with more accurate and personalized ads. Our location, however, is one of the most important pieces of data to protect. To manage how and when to inform apps and sites of our location on iOS 12 we need to go to Settings, then Privacy and finally Location Services.