This article is the result of personal experience. After having lost our smartphone for 24 hours, we learned some lessons about the security measures to put in place. PkGator will help you not only protect your data in case of unintentional separation with your iPhone but also help you find it.
1-Define an access code This is the basic rule of safety. Never leave an iPhone, or a smartphone in general, accessible to everyone. Set an access code. Of course, use a password with letters, numbers, and symbols instead of a simple 4-digit code. However, no need for code if you use Face ID or Touch ID. To create an access code, go to "Settings" and then "Touch ID and code" or in "Settings" and "Face ID and access code". Make sure that the "unlock iPhone" option is activated once the access code has been saved.
2-Disable options and Siri lock screen Even if you have a concrete access code, a malicious person can still glean important information through the phone lock screen. The Siri wizard tries to make itself useful by displaying a certain amount of personal information that anyone who has found the phone will be able to consult. If this is enough to scare you, it is best to disable Siri on the lock screen. Another way that hackers can penetrate your iPhone or take the time to try to crack your access code is to activate the airplane mode via the Control Center from the lock screen. Because when the iPhone is in airplane mode, you can not follow it via the Find my iPhone option. To disable access to Siri and Control Center from the lock screen, go to "Settings" and then "Touch ID and Code (or Face ID and Code on iPhone X)" and disable Control Center and Siri in the "Allow access in locked mode" list.
3-Shorten the lockout time
To avoid having to enter the access code every time the phone locks, it is possible to set a delay of up to 4 hours before you are prompted for the key. A flexibility that can turn against you in case of loss. If you happen to forget your iPhone in a restaurant, transport or other public place, a person acting fast enough could access it before it locks. To shorten the delay before the access code is needed, go to "Settings" and then "Touch ID and Code". The safest option is to request the code immediately. Be aware that the default setting is set to immediate when setting up Touch ID or Face ID.
4-Activate the data protection
If someone puts their hands on your iPhone and has enough time, they could try to find your access code by multiplying the attempts until you find the right combination, which could be done without too much trouble if your code has only 4 digits. To prevent this kind of scenario, the iPhone has a mode that resets the device after 10 incorrect access attempts. Do not worry, if you or your children are wrong, iOS has planned a delay after 4 attempts before starting again: 1 minute after the 5th try, 5 minutes after the 6th, 15 minutes after the 7th and 8th and an hour after 9th. To activate this option, go to "Settings" then "Touch ID and Code", scroll down and activate "Delete data".
5-Activate the two-factor identification
Two-factor identification is a great way to secure your Apple account because it's not one but two security barriers that you will be able to face in front of a potential hacker. Enable this option for Apple ID and i Cloud. When you sign in to one of Apple's services from a new iOS device, you will be asked for a 4-digit verification code in addition to your password.
6-Activate "Locate my iPhone"
If you're up in the air and you're used to losing your iPhone, we strongly recommend that you activate the "Locate my iPhone" feature. This does not change your daily use and it is very easy to set. Thanks to this, you can follow your phone in case of loss from another iOS device or your computer by viewing it on a map. And if it is not far from you, you can also ring it to locate it more easily. And if by chance you can not find your precious, "Locate my iPhone" will allow you to lock and / or erase its contents.
To activate the option, go to "Settings" then press the name of your account (at the top) then successively "i Cloud", "Locate my iPhone" and switch the cursor.
