“In the digital era, privacy must be a priority. Is it just me, or is secret blanket surveillance obscenely outrageous?” Al Gore.
If you read the posts on Windows or macOS, you’ll note that I’m repeating some text I had there, appropriately modified for iOS. If you don’t have a Mac or a Windows PC, you may have skipped those posts. Off we go.
Controlling access to your iPhone is a must. Set a passcode to control access to your phone. It should be 8 characters or more. But what about a biometric? iPhones support Face ID.
Opinions vary.
I prefer using a passcode for three reasons. First, I can change it if it’s compromised. I can’t change my face in any way I wish to contemplate. Second, my face is publicly available. I wear it every time I step out the door. I’ve traveled internationally and Face ID is used to board international flights and in customs and border control. It’s in pictures on the Internet. Since my face is stored in multiple places that could be breached, there’s the possibility that my biometric could be compromised. Third, while the law is evolving, law enforcement generally can’t compel me to provide something I know, like a password, but they can compel me to unlock a device using my face. Use your own judgment.
I recommend you configure your iPhone to auto lock if it’s been idle for a period of time. And make sure you require a passcode to unlock it. This is easy to do:
- Go to “Settings > Face ID & Passcode.” You must enter your passcode to proceed, if one is enabled. Scroll down and “Turn Passcode On,” if it’s off. This will require you to enter a passcode. If your current passcode is short, select “Change Passcode” to change it to 8 characters or more. Set “Require Passcode” to “Immediately.”
- Scroll down to “Allow Access When Locked” and review the settings. Limit access to your comfort level.
- Scroll down to the bottom and consider enabling “Erase Data.” This will erase all data on the iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts.
- Under “Settings > [Your Name] > Sign-in & Security,” enable “Two-Factor Authentication.”
You should always control access to your iPhone by requiring passcode to login and after it wakes up from sleep. This is basic computer hygiene, much like brushing your teeth.
On to user account management.
Information provided in this post is subject to the disclaimer in the first post of this series.