As we continue to store more of our personal lives on our smartphones, the thought of losing them to theft becomes increasingly distressing.

For many of us, our iPhones are not just phones; they are our photo albums, our address books, our personal assistants, and even our wallets.

That's why Apple's latest security update is something all iPhone users should be aware of and act upon immediately.

The new feature, introduced in iOS 17.3, is called Stolen Device Protection, and it's a game-changer for iPhone security.

It's designed to make your device significantly less attractive to thieves and protect your data if your phone does fall into the wrong hands.

Here's what you need to know to take advantage of this new security measure:

Apple released a new feature to protect our security and prevent our iPhones from being stolen. Credit: Shutterstock

1. Update your iPhone to iOS 17.3. This is crucial as the feature is only available in this latest update. To check if you have the latest version, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Once updated, navigate to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. You'll be prompted to enter your passcode to access these settings.
3. Look for the option labelled 'Stolen Device Protection' and toggle it on. This will activate the new security features.

When Stolen Device Protection is enabled, your iPhone will require a successful Face ID or Touch ID verification before anyone can access your Apple Wallet and stored passcodes.

This means that even if a thief manages to get into your phone, they won't be able to make payments or access sensitive information without your unique biometric data.

Moreover, if your iPhone detects that it's in an unusual location, it will initiate an hour-long delay for any attempts to reset the passcode.

This gives you extra time to report the device as stolen and secure your Apple account.

In the unfortunate event that someone tries to wipe your device clean to sell it, they'll hit a wall.

The phone will not allow a factory reset without the necessary Face ID or Touch ID verification, thanks to the Stolen Device Protection feature.

An Apple spokesperson has highlighted the importance of this feature, stating, '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.'

This update is a significant step forward in smartphone security, making it less appealing for thieves to target iPhones.

However, it's also essential to remember the other security measures at your disposal. For instance, regularly updating and 'expiring' old passwords can prevent someone who has been eyeing your phone from gaining access if they already know your current passcodes.

While updating your security settings, it's also a good time to review what's running in the background on your phone.

Some apps and features can drain your battery life, so take a moment to optimise your settings for better performance.

Key Takeaways

• Apple has introduced a new security feature called Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 to help protect against data misuse if your iPhone is stolen.
• To activate the feature, iPhone users must update to iOS 17.3 and enable it in the 'Face ID & Passcode' settings.
• Once enabled, the feature requires a successful face or fingerprint ID check to access stored wallet and passcodes and delays passcode reset attempts.
• The Apple spokesperson highlighted that this security delay prevents a thief from performing critical operations, allowing the user time to mark their device as lost and secure their Apple account.

Have you already updated your iPhone with this new security feature? Or do you have other tips for keeping your smartphone safe from thieves? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below!

 

[DLHM]

I agree that Android phones are more flexible, with more adjustments that can be made, but for most iPhone buyers, they just want a phone that works well and is reasonably secure. The world is already complex enough without having to muck around with your phone as well. I once had a Google Pixel phone, and it didn't have a timer/alarm clock built in. So I had to try to choose a good app to do it. I downloaded one and it didn't work well and I was late for work. So I had to find another one. But I didn't trust it. Then I bought an iPhone which had a good timer/alarm clock built-in, and I was so happy with it. I could trust it. You don't want to miss a plane flight because of a dicey app on your phone!

I appreciate your reply. Good to know there are people like you who aren’t so biased. We’re all different with our wants and/or needs and we get to have the choice.