Your iPhone is an impressive piece of equipment, capable of delivering enormous value to the palm of your hand, wherever in the world you might be. But with all of its powerful advantages comes responsibility: while you might be able to connect easily, you’ll also run the risk of being targeted by malicious online attackers. Phishing is a major concern, with around 24% of smartphone users having fallen victim to it. But it’s not the only problem: nearly half of users encounter scams every day.
So, how can these problems be addressed? The first step is understanding the common tactics used by cybercriminals. From there, implementing strong security habits can dramatically reduce your risk.
Mastering iPhone’s Built-In Privacy Features
To begin with, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with all of the built-in features of iOS. These include Lockdown Mode, which helps at-risk individuals to protect themselves against sophisticated cyberattacks. Then there’s Mail Privacy Protection, which effectively masks your IP in order to prevent trackers from establishing that you’ve opened an email. Finally, every app comes with permission controls, which you’ll want to manually configure.
Staying Safe on Public and Shared Wi-Fi
A study found that around 39% of U.S. adults access sensitive data on public Wi-Fi. But if you’re frequently accessing public Wi-Fi, then you might be putting yourself at risk.
A hacker might either dial into the network and intercept your data, or set up a spoof network for unwitting victims to log into. While this problem isn’t as great as it once was, thanks to widespread browser encryption, you can protect yourself still further with the help of a free VPN for iPhone.
Protecting Personal Data from Apps and Trackers
In order to provide a better experience, many apps and websites will log your activity. This can help them to be more responsive. For example, if you’re always typing the same phrase into a search bar, an app might record that information in order to offer better auto-complete.
In some cases though, consent for this logging is not clearly requested. You can monitor which apps have permission to do what through App Tracking Transparency. You might also install a browser that’s explicitly built around privacy.
Exploring Complementary Security Tools
To make your device more secure, you might habitually use robust authentication techniques. A password manager, for example, might compose complex passwords on your behalf, and ensure that each one you use is unique to the service attached to it. Multi-factor authentication, which uses a fingerprint as well as a password, and encrypted messaging services like Signal and WhatsApp, are also very useful.
Building Safer Digital Habits Every Day
The habits you maintain can make a big difference to your experience, and the level of security you enjoy. Get into the habit of updating your software regularly, reviewing your security settings, and reviewing your passwords to check that they haven’t been compromised in a data breach.
