Phones & Gadgets

Turn on three iPhone settings today to stop thieves from raiding your bank after they snatch your phone

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You should make your iPhone as impenetrable as possible if you’re concerned about phone thieves stealing it.

That entails much more than just configuring Face ID and a passcode. Actually, you should turn on three more iPhone settings today.

Even while it will only take a minute or two, it could prevent a major headache later on.

STOLEN DEVICE PROTECTION

The most crucial of them is probably stolen device protection.

One of the best defenses against phone snatchers attempting to access your apps or even make transactions is this.

It functions by strengthening your iPhone’s security while you’re not at home or at work.

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For example, you will need to utilize Face ID or Touch ID if someone steals your phone and tries to access your credit cards or passwords.

Using a passcode, which would have been helpful if they had seen you enter yours, will not be an option.

They will therefore be unable to use your iPhone to make payments, draining your bank account.

The Security Delay, which limits how often you can change your Apple Account password, is another crucial feature.

They will have to wait an hour before performing a second Face ID or Touch ID check if they attempt to change your password.

It seems improbable that they would still need to be with you an hour after stealing your iPhone.

“In the event that your iPhone is stolen, the security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” Apple states.

The good news is that you won’t need to take these extra precautions at work or at home.

Apple keeps note of these as “familiar locations” to ensure that your day isn’t too much interrupted.

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However, even if you are in a familiar place, you can configure Stolen Device Protection to always request these protection precautions.

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and authenticate yourself to activate it.

Next, activate the option by tapping Stolen Device Protection.

Toggle this page’s setting to Always if you want the Security Delay to be on at all times.

LOCK APPS

It’s possible that your phone will be stolen while it’s unlocked.

If they caught you off guard, you frequently can’t help it.

However, by keeping your most crucial apps closed, you may prepare yourself for a scenario like this.

Lock your messaging apps (like WhatsApp), for example, to prevent someone from texting your family and requesting personal information, such as a passcode reminder or even money.

Additionally, you should lock your email programs (such as Gmail or Outlook) to stop hackers from utilizing them to change your account passwords.

iOS 18 devices can your iPhone get it?

The following gadgets are eligible to receive the latest iOS 18 update:

  • iPhone SE (2nd generation)
  • iPhone SE (3rd generation)
  • iPhone XR
  • iPhone XS
  • iPhone XS Max
  • iPhone 11
  • iPhone 11 Pro
  • iPhone 11 Pro Max
  • iPhone 12
  • iPhone 12 mini
  • iPhone 12 Pro
  • iPhone 12 Pro Max
  • iPhone 13
  • iPhone 13 mini
  • iPhone 13 Pro
  • iPhone 13 Pro Max
  • iPhone 14
  • iPhone 14 Plus
  • iPhone 14 Pro
  • iPhone 14 Pro Max
  • iPhone 15
  • iPhone 15 Plus
  • iPhone 15 Pro
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • iPhone 16
  • iPhone 16 Plus
  • iPhone 16 Pro
  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

Image Source: The Sun/Apple

To prevent criminals from viewing any of your private photos, think about closing the Photos app. This is crucial if you have private photos that could be used against you, or even images of your banking information or passwords.

Keep everything that you believe a thief would find useful locked away.

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So, how can you lock an iPhone app?

You must first download the iOS 18 software update, which was released by Apple in 2024 and included the capability.

To check for it, simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update. If you haven’t already, install it.

Simply select Require Face ID after touching and holding the app icon on the Home screen.

After pressing Require Face ID once more, you will need to confirm yourself.

You will now have to authenticate yourself each time you open a locked application.

These restricted apps can also be hidden, which may provide you with a little extra security.

Simply select the Hide and Require Face ID option when you hold down on the app.

This will put the application under the Hidden folder located in the far-right Home Screen panel at the bottom of your App Library.

Until you verify yourself after clicking on the Hidden folder, neither its contents nor whether it contains any programs will be visible.

SELF-DESTRUCT MODE

Additionally, Apple included a self-destruct mode in the iPhone.

If someone has stolen your locked iPhone and is unsure of the precise passcode, this is more helpful.

If they guess the passcode incorrectly too many times, the capability, known as Erase Data, would just erase your iPhone.

The purpose of “brute-forcing” is to prevent someone from repeatedly guessing your passcode until they get it right.

Your iPhone will “erase all information, media, and personal settings” if they enter the passcode incorrectly ten times.

If these unsuccessful attempts are not consecutive—that is, not followed by a correct entry—it will not reset.

But be advised that the only way to recover data from your iPhone is to restore it from a backup.

Additionally, your iPhone will need to be configured as a brand-new device if you haven’t backed it up.

IPHONE LOCKING TOO QUICKLY?

That is something you can alter.

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You can adjust the time if you feel that your iPhone locks too soon on its own.

Simply select Auto-Lock under Settings > Display & Brightness.

After that, you can select from the following time options:

  • 30 seconds
  • 1 minute
  • 2 minutes
  • 3 minutes
  • 4 minutes
  • 5 minutes
  • Never

Note that Apple claims that the Auto-Lock time is “reduced by half” if you leave your iPhone on the Home Screen and do nothing.

Image Source: Sun

First, make sure that automated backups are enabled.

Just make sure that Back Up This iPhone is turned on by going to Settings > [Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

From that menu, you may manually initiate a backup as well.

Settings > Touch ID & Passcode or Settings > Face ID & Passcode will then appear.

Navigate to the bottom of the page and turn on the Erase Data option.

This will ensure that after ten consecutive unsuccessful tries to log in, your iPhone will delete itself.

If you decide to change your mind at any time, you can always turn this off.

And activate it with caution: if your iPhone falls into the hands of a young child, they could inadvertently wipe your handset. So be warned.

If you want to make your mobile more private, check out The Sun’s guide tomaking an iPhone “snooper-proof”.

We also revealed tips onhow to send secret and “invisible” texts on an iPhone.

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