10 Tips to Make Your iPhone and iPad Safer (iOS11 Update)

by Awesome Author | Sep 15, 2018 | Cyber Security

In May 2014, a group of Russian hackers launched a malware attack against iOS device users, which locked their devices. The group demanded a $100 ransom from each victim to unlock the afflicted devices.

While the attack affected a large number of users, it appeared to mostly affect users who had not used a passcode to secure their devices.

Later that year, a September report told of celebrities who had their iCloud accounts hacked, leading to the release of revealing photos of those same celebrities. The photos were first posted on a 4chan message board.

Of course, the internet being the internet, the images quickly spread to the rest of the web.

These are just two of numerous instances where bad guys gained access and control of an iOS user’s device. Such stories can cause a chill to run through the average user’s body.

However, in both cases, the access was gained due to users not protecting themselves properly. They had neglected to either lock down their device with a passcode, or – in the celebrity photos hacks – they used weak passwords and committed the cardinal sin of password reuse.

In this article, I’ll guide you through what you can do to protect your device and all of that valuable personal and business data that you have stored on it. I’ll show you how to protect your device from prying eyes and keep it updated to the latest version of iOS.

I’ll also take a look at how to back up your iOS device, set it up to unlock with just the touch of a finger, and even how to make sure all of your personal data is removed before you sell or donate an old device.

In addition, I’ll take a look at how to password-protect notes in the iOS 11 Notes app and keep track of all of the other passwords you use. Before I’m through, you’ll also know what jailbreaking is, and the pros and cons of doing it to your device.

1. Enable Auto-Lock and Set the Timeout

How you set the timeout period depends on how you use your device.

If you always have your iPhone in your hand and use it constantly, you might want to set auto-lock to a longer period of time. Those users that simply check mail every once in a while, or only use it a couple of times a day, might want to set it to a shorter period of time.

Fun fact: I once worked at an Apple Store located in the Southwest part of the United States. A fun pastime for mischievous employees at the store was to find an unlocked iPhone another employee had left unattended.

Soon, the unsuspecting employee was receiving text messages and Facebook comments wondering why he or she hadn’t told their loved ones about their Spider-Man bed sheets or their entire collection of My Little Pony DVDs before now.

2. Turn On Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security for your iCloud login and associated devices. It ensures your account can only be accessed on devices and computers that you trust.

Any time you log in to a new device or computer for the first time, you’ll need to provide your password and a six-digit verification code that will automatically display on your already trusted devices.

After completing the steps above, you’ll be asked for the phone number where you want to receive verification codes. The codes can be sent via text or a phone call, so any type of phone number can be entered. When you tap “Next,” Apple will send you a verification code. Enter the number to verify the phone number and turn on two-factor authentication.

For more information about two-factor authentication, and to learn how to set it up on your other Apple devices, visit the Apple Support website.

3. Use “Find My iPhone”

You love your new iOS device. You take it everywhere you go.

Uh-oh! You’ve lost it. Now what?

No worries – you enabled “Find My iPhone” on the device, right?

Find My iPhone allows owners of an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, Mac or AirPods to find the lost device, accessory or computer by displaying the item’s last known location on a map viewable on another iOS device or computer.

This can help if you weren’t sure exactly where you lost the device. The service also allows you to get the device to play a sound, which is handy if you think it may have slid under a seat cushion or fallen into a drawer. (Hey, it happens!)

You can also remotely lock and send a message to your device, informing the finder of the device as to how they can contact you.

As a last resort when all else fails, you can send a command to the device to wipe itself clean of all personal information. The device remains linked to your iCloud account, preventing anyone else from resetting the device and using or selling it.

Enabling Find My iPhone

1. Open the Settings app and tap “User Name.”

2. On the “Apple ID” screen, tap the name of your device. Mine is “Bigger and Badder.” It is also labeled as “This iPhone 8 Plus,” as seen in the screenshots below.

3. On the “Device Info” screen, tap the “Find My iPhone” menu option.

4. On the “Find My iPhone” screen, make sure the “Find My iPhone” toggle switch is set to “on.” (The background of the button will be green when it’s turned on.) Also, make sure the “Send Last Location” toggle switch is set to “on.”

Now, if you lose your iOS device, you can view its location on a map, message anyone who may have found the device, or lock or erase it if need be. Also, since the “Send Last Location” option was turned on, your device will automatically attempt to send its location to Apple if the device’s battery reaches a critically low level.

Using Find My iPhone to Find a Lost Device

If you lose your iPhone or iPad, visit the iCloud.com website on your computer or another mobile device to view its location. There, you’ll be able to see the device’s location, tell it to make a noise to alert you to its nearby whereabouts, or lock or erase the device.

Visit iCloud.com and log in with your iCloud credentials.

From the main iCloud.com menu, click the “Find iPhone” icon.

A map will display, showing all of the devices, computers, and accessories you have enabled “Find My iPhone” on. To narrow the view down to the device you are searching for, click the pull-down at the top of the map labeled “All Devices.”

Click the name of the device you are searching for. Only that device will display on the map.

4. Keep Your Device Updated to the Latest Version of iOS

To ensure you are protected from any security holes or other issues with your iPhone or iPad, you should always keep your iOS device updated to the most recent version of the iOS mobile operating system.

Apple releases a major update of their iOS operating system, alongside the debut of their new flagship iPhone handset, each fall. The new operating system always offers new features as well as fixes for any security holes that may have been discovered over the previous year.

The company also makes periodic “point releases” during the rest of the year, which are intended to fix any issues found in the operating system by researchers and users.

Apple and security researchers, from time to time, find security flaws in iOS. (All operating systems have security holes – it’s just a sad fact of modern computing.) Apple regularly updates iOS to plug those security holes.

Upgrading to the latest version of iOS is easy and can be performed either over-the-air or via iTunes. Before updating your iPhone or iPad, always make sure you have a recent backup of the device, just in case any issues arise. I’ll show you how to back up your device in the next section.

Updating an iOS Device Over-the-Air

Your iOS device can be updated “over-the-air,” which means it can be updated directly through its Wi-Fi connection. The update downloads to the device and is automatically installed.

Updating an iOS Device via iTunes

If you don’t have a Wi-Fi signal handy, you can hook your iPhone or iPad up to your PC or Mac through a Lightning cable and update it via iTunes. (Your computer will need to be connected to the internet in some manner or other for this to work.)

1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your PC or Mac.

2. Connect your device to the computer with a Lightning cable.

3. Open iTunes and select the iOS device you want to update.

4. Click “Summary” and then click “Check for Update.”

5. Click “Download and Update.”

6. If requested, enter the passcode for the device.

7. Wait for the update process to finish.

5. Back Up Your Device Regularly

For any computer or mobile device, the best advice I can give anyone is to keep it backed up. There is no better feeling if and when your iOS device dies (or if you just want to buy a new model) than knowing you have a recent backup you can restore from.

Backups save hours, perhaps even days of trying to remember what was on your iPhone. (And you WILL forget something important. There is no doubt about that!)

As mentioned in the previous section, you always want to have a backup handy, just in case something goes wrong with an iOS update. As an example, Apple’s iOS 10.3 update made a huge change, especially for a “point” update.

Version 10.3 converted the file format for storage on iOS devices from the 30-year-old HFS+ file system to the new Apple File System (AFS). While not many issues were reported with the conversion, you can be sure the folks who did have issues were glad to have had a backup handy!

Set Your iOS Device to Back Up Automatically

The easiest way to keep a recent backup of your iPhone or iPad is to set it to back up to iCloud every night automatically. iCloud Backup will store a copy of the information on your device, allowing it to be quickly restored if needed.

Here’s how to set up iCloud Backup:

1. Open the Settings app and go to: “Settings” -> “User Name” -> “iCloud” -> “iCloud Backup.” Make sure iCloud Backup is turned on.

2. Each evening, connect your iOS device to a power source.

3. Make sure the device is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

4. Make sure the device’s screen is locked.

If you find your device isn’t backing up automatically, it may be due to a lack of space in your iCloud storage account.

When you first set up iCloud, you automatically receive 5GB of free cloud storage. While 5GB is usually enough to back up an iOS device, that storage can also be used for other purposes, such as storing photos and videos, documents, and other data from various iCloud-enabled apps.

Check your iCloud storage space by opening the Settings app on your device and going to “Settings” -> “[User Name]” -> “iCloud.” There, at the top of the screen, you’ll see how much iCloud storage space you have remaining. A handy gauge shows you what exactly is taking up space in your iCloud Drive.

If needed, you can purchase more iCloud storage space by tapping the Storage Gauge and then tapping “Change Storage Plan.” On the next screen, you can buy more iCloud storage space.

Backing Up Your iOS Device to Your Computer via iTunes

You can also keep a backup of your iOS device on your PC or Mac by using iTunes. I always back my iPhone up to both iCloud and iTunes to double-down on the chance of having a good backup to restore my device if needed.

6. Set Up Device’s Passcode & Touch ID or Face ID

No matter where you use your iPhone or iPad, it’s never a good idea to leave it unprotected by a device passcode or fingerprint lock via Touch ID.

At the very least, you should lock your device with a passcode, and if your device was manufactured in the last few years, you should also lock it with a fingerprint through Touch ID – or in the case of the iPhone X, Face ID.

Setting or Changing the Passcode on Your iOS Device

To set a passcode, do the following:

1. On your iOS device, tap the “Settings” icon to open the Settings app.

2. In the Settings menu, look for the “Touch ID & Passcode” menu option (it’s about two screens down). Tap the menu selection when you find it.

3. If you already have a passcode set, you’ll be asked to enter it.

4. You’ll now see the Touch ID & Passcode screen. Scroll down until you see the “Change Passcode” menu option. Tap that.

5. Again, if you already have a passcode set, you’ll be asked to enter it.

6. On the next screen, you’ll see a prompt to change your passcode. If you so desire, you can enter a six-digit passcode on this screen, enter the code one more time, and a new six-digit code will be set.

However, you can also set a custom alphanumeric code of any length, a custom numeric code of any length, or the traditional four-digit numeric code.

7. Once you have decided which type of passcode to use, enter it. You will then be asked to enter it again a second time to confirm it.

Setting Up Touch ID on Your iOS Device

Check this list to see if your iOS device supports Touch ID:

iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone 8

iPhone 7 Plus

iPhone 7

iPhone 6S Plus

iPhone 6S

iPhone SE

iPhone 6 Plus

iPhone 6

iPhone 5S

iPad Pro (both the 12.9 and 9.7)

iPad Air 2

iPad Mini 4

iPad Mini 3

iPad 5th Generation (Released 2017)

If your device is included in the list above, you can enable and set up Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, allowing you to unlock your device, use it to log in to apps, and pay for goods and services both online and (with your iPhone) at participating merchants.

After completing the scan of your first finger, you’ll be taken back to the “Touch ID & Passcode” menu.

I usually name the fingerprint I just scanned. To do that, tap the print whose name you wish to change, then tap the “x” to delete the current name, and then enter a new name. I name them according to the finger, like “Right Thumb,” but I suppose you could call it anything you want. (Okay, “This Little Piggy Went to Market” it is.)

You can now repeat the process for up to four more fingers. However, you might consider allowing a trusted individual, such as your spouse, to scan a fingerprint. Doing so will enable them to unlock the device in case of an emergency. (This is particularly well-advised for butchers, who could lose a digit or five in a tragic bologna-slicing accident.)

Once your fingerprints have all been registered by your device, you can then rename them, as mentioned above, or delete any of them and scan a different digit.

When you’re back on the “Touch ID & Passcode” menu, you can set the following operations to be used with Touch ID.

iPhone Unlock

When this toggle switch is set to on/green, you can use any of your registered fingerprints to unlock your iPhone using Touch ID in place of entering your passcode.

Apple Pay

When this toggle switch is set to on/green, you can use any of your registered fingerprints to authorize Apple Pay payments at participating merchants.

iTunes & App Store

When this toggle switch is set to on/green, you can use any of your registered fingerprints to authorize purchases from the iTunes Store or App Store in place of typing out your iTunes password.

Setting Up FACE ID on Your Phone X

If you own an iPhone X, you won’t have the option to set up Touch ID, as the iPhone X doesn’t come equipped with a Touch ID sensor or even a Home Button. Instead, Apple’s latest and greatest flagship handset boasts a new technology called Face ID.

7. Use a Password Manager

Most password managers, 1Password included, are not one-trick ponies. Instead, they offer a number of helpful features, storing secure notes and other types of information, all protected by encryption.

Many password managers on the iOS platform also offer the ability to be unlocked via the convenient Touch ID or Face ID features available on recent iOS devices. This removes the requirement of remembering even a single password, reducing the unlocking process to simply pressing the fingers you used for Touch ID or glancing at the screen with Face ID.

8. Password-Protect notes in the iOS Notes App

While I’m on the subject of password-protecting things, let’s take a quick look at the Notes app. It’s one of the built-in apps in iOS and has had the ability to protect notes via password and Touch ID since the release of iOS 9.3.

Set a Password for a Note

How to Reset Your Password for Notes

You can change the password for notes via the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app and then tap the “Notes” menu option.

2. In the Notes settings, tap the “Password” menu option.

3. Tap the “Change Password…” option.

4. Enter your old Notes password, then enter your new password – twice – in order to verify it.

5. Set a Hint to help you remember the new password.

6. Tap “Done,” which can be found in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

You can also tap the “Reset Password” link on the Password screen and enter a new password that will only affect new notes. All old notes will still be locked with the old password.

9. Don’t Jailbreak Your Device

Ever since the early days of the iOS operating system, there have been iPhone users who have jailbroken their devices.

Jailbreaking is best described as running software that removes the Apple-imposed restrictions on an iOS device. This allows users to download and install apps and system utilities from sources other than Apple’s official App Store.

Jailbreaking proponents brag about the ability to use an iOS device however they want, with none of the restrictions Apple imposes on the standard “jailed” iOS operating system. They cite, and rightly so, that iOS doesn’t offer the same freedom of features as those provided by less-restrictive mobile operating systems, such as Android.

Somewhere around iOS 6 or 7, I jailbroke a device I had just replaced with the latest and greatest iPhone that was currently available. While I enjoyed playing with the new abilities and options that jailbreaking opened up to me, I soon realized that I would never be comfortable jailbreaking my daily driver device.

Call me old-fashioned, but I enjoy the “jail” a stock iOS device is kept in, as it also keeps me safer from malware and other hazards I might face when using a jailbroken device.

iOS jailbreaking dates back to 2007 and the original iPhone. For the first year of its existence, the iPhone and its operating system (not yet called iOS) restricted users to the stock apps that were installed at the Apple factory.

Users also had access to clever, yet limited, web-based apps that developers came up with. These limitations soon began to chafe many users, who decided to break the rules and find a way to develop and install apps onto their new preciouses, without the approval of the folks in Cupertino.

As jailbreaking has grown in popularity, Apple has waged a constant battle to shut down known jailbreaking methods. They do so by updating their iOS mobile operating system in order to close security holes the jailbreaking methods make use of to break the device free from its bonds.

Once Apple releases an update, the jailbreaking community then examines the new code for any security flaws that it can exploit to jailbreak the device once again. The chess game continues to this day.

The advantages of jailbreaking are attractive to users, due to the freedom it offers them to install apps that would not normally be allowed on their device. However, that same freedom offers a new batch of hazards that the users would not usually be required to face.

Jailbreaking and using unauthorized software opens iOS devices up to the possible installation of malware and viruses that would normally be caught by Apple’s rigorous app review process.

The Cydia App Store, where most jailbroken apps are downloaded and installed from, does not require the same close review for inclusion in the store. This allows bad actor developers to slip in code that could possibly steal your personal information.

Software piracy is also a problem on jailbroken devices, as the lack of controls allows for easier installation of pirated apps, thus depriving developers of their rightful earnings. While software piracy is also present on stock iOS devices, the methods used are usually more complicated than on jailbroken devices, making it less attractive.

Users who have jailbroken their iOS device and then have issues with it, requiring them to visit an Apple Genius Bar for service, may find themselves turned away. An Apple support article about jailbreaking notes that the company “may deny service for an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch that has installed any unauthorized software.”

For the reasons above, I urge you not to jailbreak your iOS device. As iOS has been updated over the last few years, Apple has added numerous features to the mobile operating system that were once only available on jailbroken devices. There are, in my humble opinion, simply not enough reasons to jailbreak a device these days.

Wikipedia offers quite an informative entry on iOS jailbreaking, which goes into much more detail about the subject than available space allows me to offer here. I suggest interested readers visit the Wikipedia webpage for more information about the subject before deciding whether or not to jailbreak their device.

10. Wipe Your iOS Device Before Selling or Donating

2. Scroll down and tap “Sign Out.” Enter your Apple ID password and tap “Turn Off.”

Once the device has wiped itself clean, it should reboot and display the familiar “Welcome” greeting you saw when you first set the device up straight out of the box.

Action Steps

This article by Bill Hess was previously published on Pixelprivacy.com

About the Author: Bill Hess is the Founder of Pixelprivacy.com