iOS 15 brings several new security featurestothe iPhone.But ultimately, the security of a device is in the hands of the owner, who can choose to bolster that security or weaken it.

Here's what you need to know to make your iPhone a harder target for hackers and thieves.

Note that these settings also mostly apply to the iPad.

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The basics

First off, everything starts off with the basics.These haven't changed in years.

Use a strong passcode using Custom Alphanumeric Code (if this is easily guessable, it's game over).

• If you think someone knows your passcode, change it.
  Go toSettings > Face ID & Passcode(orTouch ID & Passcode).
• Turn on Face ID/Touch ID.
• Turn on screen Auto-Lock.
  Go toSettings > Display & Brightnessand tapAuto-Lockand set to 30 seconds or 1 minute.
• Make sure iOS is up to date.
  Go toSettings > General > Software Updateand make sureAutomatic Updateis enabled.
• Keep all your apps updated.
  Go toSettings > App Storeand make sureApp Updatesare enabled.

Keep an eye on apps that might be spying on you

A new feature in iOS 15 is the ability to log what apps are up to on your iPhone.The feature is called Record App Activity, and this allows you to get a lot of when an app does one of the following:

• The user's photo library
• A camera
• The microphone
• The user's contacts
• The user's media library
• Location data
• Screen sharing

To enable this feature, go toSettings > Privacyand then scroll down to findRecord App Activity.

Built-in authenticator

iOS 15 brings an end to having to fire up a third-party two-factor authenticator app.

Now Apple has built one right into iOS, and better still, it can even autofill the information for you.

Got toSettings > Passwords,and then for each password entry, you can tap on it to get access to an option calledSet Up Verification Codes...which allows you to enter the information required either using a setup key or QR code.

Using a two-factor authenticator is far more secure than relying on SMS messages, so you should use this feature -- either using Apple's authenticator or another app -- to get the highest security.

Hide your IP address from trackers

Safari can now cloak your IP address from trackers on websites, making it pretty much impossible for your browsing to be logged.

Go toSettings > Safariand setHide IP Address to From Trackers.

Secure your browsing

If you have an iCloud+ subscription, Apple has just given you a great reason to use the Safari browser -- iCloud Private Relay. This is like a VPN in that it sends your web traffic through other servers to keep your location secret.

To enable iCloud Private Relay, you'll need an iCloud+ subscription. Then go toSettings,and at the top, tap your name and then go toiCloudand enablePrivate Relay.

Put a stop to email trackers

Protect Mail Activity is a feature built into the Mail app that prevents people from knowing if emails have been opened.

To enable this feature, go toSettings > Mail, tap onPrivacy Protectionand enableProtect Mail Activity.

If iCloud Private Relay is a good reason to switch to Safari, then this feature is a good reason to switch to Mail.

See also

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• iPhone envy? Here are 3 iOS 17 features already available on Android
• 5 useful iOS 17 features Apple quietly released at WWDC 2023
• Your iPhone's Wallet app is getting two big iOS 17 updates. Here they are
• iPhone overheating? Here are 8 potential causes and their solutions