🔒 Your iPhone isn’t as private as you think…

Think your default settings keep you safe? Think again. From sneaky location tracking to hidden app permissions, your iPhone could be quietly leaking your data. We’ve compiled 20 must-change privacy & security settings that you need to know.

1. To keep your iOS updated to the latest version – Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update to install, tap on Download and Install or if it is up to date, ‘Your Software is up to date’ will be shown.
2. To help locate your iPhone if you have misplaced it and also remotely wipe your data if it is in the wrong hands use this setting – Go to Setting > [Your Name] > Find My. Tap Find my iPhone, and check if it is enabled.
3. To protect your Apple ID with Two Factor Authentication – Go to Setting > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Two Factor Authentication (Make sure it is on).
4. To use a stronger Passcode – Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode > Change Passcode > Enter a new passcode and you can choose custom 6 digit numeric passcode or an Alphanumeric passcode.
5. To disable Siri and other actions on the Lock Screen to protect your personal information – Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode > Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked and Toggle off setting such as Control Centre, Wallet, Accessories, Siri.
6. To erase your data after 10 failed passcode attempts by third parties – Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode > Scroll down to Erase Data and toggle on. This you may turn off in case a child or someone accidentally should try multiple failed attempts, to keep your data safe. This is best left to your preference for safety versus accidental data loss.
7. To ensure Face ID is not abused by use of your static photo etc. if your Phone uses Face ID to make it more secure and to prevent unauthorized access: Go to Settings > Face ID and Passcode > Scroll to Require Attention for Face ID and toggle it on.
8. To choose one or more people you trust as Account Recovery Contacts to help you reset your Apple ID password and regain access to your account if you ever forget your password or get locked out use this setting – Go To Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-In & Security > Account Recovery, tap Add Recovery Contact and then follow the instructions.
9. To prevent phone thieves from taking over your Apple ID do this – Go to Settings > Screen Time > Lock Screen Time Settings & set a Screen Time Passcode. If not set already and make sure it is different from your iPhone passcode. Then go to Content and Privacy Restrictions and Enable it. Here you will need to re-enter the screen time passcode you just set up.
10. To Disable Tracking do this – Got to Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking > Allow Apps to Request to Track. You can toggle this option off.
11. To Enable Sensitive Content Warning – Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Sensitive Content Warning and toggle this on.
12. To enable stolen device protection – Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Stolen Device Protection. You may turn on the toggle here and select “Always”.
13. To enable Government Alerts (during war or other emergencies) – Go to Settings > Notifications > (Scroll to the bottom) Test Alerts, you can toggle this switch on.
14. To check app permission across all your apps in one place : Go to Settings Privacy & Security > Here you will see the full list of options such as Location Services, Tracking, Photos, Microphone, Speech Recognition etc. Now you can select each individual section to inspect which apps have access to that form of data, and you may use the toggle switches to grant versus revoke any such access, in a deliberate way. Do manage your permissions and grant them based on reviewing the app’s policies.
15. To disable sharing of your own location : Go to Settings > Select your Name > Find My > Share My Location and toggle it off.
16. To set up and call an emergency : Go to the contacts name, scroll down and turn on Add to Emergency Contacts (as a parent, spouse etc.). Then Go to : Emergency SOS > Toggle on all the necessary switches to make emergency and silent calls to this contact. At the time of emergency you can hold the respective button combination to make the call directly.
17. Turn off Bluetooth, Airdrop and Personal Hotspot only at the time you are actually using these features.
18. To protect your from non-secure networks : Go to Settings > Wi-Fi > Ask to Join Networks > Select Ask, this way you will be asked before joining an unknown network.
19. To lock apps like dating apps or Photos, or anything too personal that want to protect from prying eyes : Long press on the respective app icon on the home screen, and require Face ID to unlock it.
20. To protect your payment apps such UPI and banking apps more securely, always use a different PIN than your phone unlock passcode.