Security

Security features help protect the information on your iPhone from being accessed by others.

Use a passcode with data protection

Initially, iPhone doesn't require you to enter a passcode to unlock it. You can set a passcode that must be entered each time you turn on or wake up iPhone.

Set a passcode. Go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode (iPhone 5s) or Settings > General > Passcode Lock (other models), and set a 4-digit passcode.

Setting a passcode turns on data protection, using your passcode as a key to encrypt Mail messages and attachments stored on iPhone, using 256-bit AES encryption. (Other apps may also use data protection.)

Increase security. Turn off Simple Passcode and use a longer passcode. To enter a passcode that's a combination of numbers and letters, you use the keyboard. If you prefer to unlock iPhone using the numeric keypad, create a passcode using numbers only.

Enroll fingerprints and set options for the Touch ID sensor. (iPhone 5s) Go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode > Touch ID. See Touch ID sensor, below.

Allow access to features when iPhone is locked. Go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode (iPhone 5s) or Settings > General > Passcode Lock (other models). Optional features include:

  • Voice Dial
  • Siri (if enabled, see Siri settings on page 42)
  • Passbook (see Chapter 24, Passbook, on page 105)
  • Reply with Message (see When someone calls on page 44)

Allow access to Control Center when iPhone is locked. Go to Settings > Control Center.

Erase data after ten failed passcode attempts. Go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode (iPhone 5s) or Settings > General > Passcode Lock (other models), then tap Erase Data. After ten failed passcode attempts, all settings are reset, and all your information and media are erased by removing the encryption key to the data.

If you forget your passcode, you must restore the iPhone software.

Touch ID sensor

On iPhone 5s, you can use a fingerprint instead of your passcode or Apple ID to unlock iPhone or make purchases on the iTunes Store, App Store, and iBooks Store.

Set up the Touch ID sensor. Go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode > Touch ID. Set whether you want to use a fingerprint to unlock iPhone, and to make iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store purchases. Tap Add a Fingerprint, and follow the onscreen instructions. You can add more than one fingerprint (one for your spouse, for example).

Delete a fingerprint. Tap Edit, then tap . If you have more than one fingerprint, touch a finger to the Home button to find out which fingerprint it is.

Name a fingerprint. Tap Edit, tap the fingerprint, then enter a name, such as "Right thumb."

Use the Touch ID sensor to unlock iPhone or make a purchase. Touch the Home button with a finger you've enrolled in Settings. You can unlock iPhone either from the Lock screen or from the Passcode screen. When purchasing from the iTunes Store, App Store, or iBooks Store, follow the prompts to enable purchases with your fingerprint. Or go to Settings > General > Touch ID & Passcode > Touch ID > iTunes & App Store.

Note: If you turn iPhone off, you'll be asked to confirm your passcode when you turn iPhone back on and unlock it the first time, and your Apple ID for the first purchase you make.

iCloud Keychain

iCloud Keychain keeps your website user names and passwords, and credit card information that you set up with Safari, up to date on iPhone and your other designated iOS devices and Macs running OS X Mavericks.

iCloud Keychain works with Safari Password Generator and AutoFill. When you're setting up a new account, Safari Password Generator suggests unique, hard-to-guess passwords. You can use AutoFill to have iPhone enter your user name and password info, making login easy.

Note: Some websites do not support AutoFill.

iCloud Keychain works on all your approved iOS 7 devices and Macs running OS X Mavericks. iCloud Keychain is secured with 256-bit AES encryption during storage and transmission, and cannot be read by Apple.

Set up iCloud Keychain. Go to Settings > iCloud > Keychain. Turn on iCloud Keychain and follow the onscreen instructions. If you've set up iCloud Keychain on other devices, you need to approve use of iCloud Keychain from one of those devices, or use your iCloud Security Code.

Important: If you forget your iCloud Security Code, you'll have to start over and set up your iCloud Keychain again.

Set up AutoFill. Go to Settings > Safari > Passwords & AutoFill. Make sure Names and Passwords, and Credit Cards, are turned on (they're on by default). To add credit card info, tap Saved Credit Cards.

The security code for your credit card is not saved-you have to enter that manually.

To automatically fill in names, passwords, or credit card info on sites that support it, tap a text field, then tap AutoFill.

Limit Ad Tracking

Restrict or reset Ad Tracking. Go to Settings > Privacy > Advertising. Turn on Limit Ad Tracking to prevent apps from accessing your iPhone advertising identifier. For more information, tap Learn More.

Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone can help you locate and secure your iPhone using the free Find My iPhone app (available in the App Store) on another iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or using a Mac or PC web browser signed in to www.icloud.com/find. Find My iPhone includes Activation Lock, which makes it more difficult for anyone else to use or sell your iPhone if you ever lose it. Your Apple ID and password are required in order to turn off Find My iPhone or to erase and reactivate your iPhone.

Turn on Find My iPhone. Go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone.

Important: To use Find My iPhone features, Find My iPhone must be turned on before your iPhone is lost. iPhone must be able to connect to the Internet for you to locate and secure the device.

Use Find My iPhone. Open the Find My iPhone app on an iOS device, or go to www.icloud.com/find on your computer. Sign in and select your device.

  • Play Sound: Play a sound for two minutes.
  • Lost Mode: You can immediately lock your missing iPhone with a passcode and send it a message displaying a contact number. iPhone also tracks and reports its location, so you can see where it's been when you check the Find My iPhone app.
  • Erase iPhone: Protects your privacy by erasing all the information and media on your iPhone and restoring iPhone to its original factory settings.

Previous page
« Privacy

Next page
Charge And Monitor The Battery »