TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Apple iPhones come with a range of built-in privacy and security features designed to protect users' personal data. However, many of these tools remain underused, including options to hide apps, create random email addresses, and secure data when a device is lost.
These features can help iPhone users improve their privacy while using apps, browsing the internet, and managing sensitive information. Here are some iPhone security features worth activating.
1. Hide Apps with Face ID
iPhone users can lock specific apps with Face ID, requiring biometric authentication before the apps can be opened. For additional privacy, users can also select the Hide App option.
When activated, the app will disappear from the Home Screen, no longer appear in search results, and its notifications will be hidden. The app can only be accessed through the Hidden folder in the App Library after the user verifies their identity with Face ID.
This feature can be useful for protecting sensitive apps, including banking applications, social media accounts, or other personal apps.
2. Activate Find My Before Losing Your iPhone
Apple recommends enabling Find My as soon as users start using their devices. The feature allows users to take several security measures if their iPhone is lost.
Through Lost Mode, users can remotely lock the device, suspend Apple Pay payments, and display a phone number or message on the screen so the person who finds the device can contact the owner.
Users can also activate Play Sound to locate an iPhone nearby when its location is known but the device is difficult to find, such as when it is misplaced at home or in an office.
If the device cannot be recovered, users can use the Erase option to remotely delete personal data and prevent unauthorized access.
3. Enable Stolen Device Protection
Beyond a regular passcode, Apple offers Stolen Device Protection as an additional security layer.
When enabled, critical actions such as changing Face ID settings, updating the passcode, or accessing sensitive information require Face ID authentication, even if someone knows the device's passcode.
Apple also introduces a one-hour security delay for certain changes, giving users additional time to activate Lost Mode through Find My if their device is stolen.
4. Check Website Trackers in Safari
Apple's Safari browser includes several privacy tools, including prevention of cross-site tracking, IP address protection, and Face ID authentication for Private Browsing tabs.
Safari also provides a Privacy Report feature that shows how many trackers have been blocked while users browse websites.
To access it, users can open a website in Safari, tap the menu icon on the left side of the address bar, and select Privacy Report.
Tempo tested the feature by opening NASA's website. Safari showed that it had blocked three trackers on the site. The report also provides a 30-day summary, including the number of trackers prevented, the percentage of websites attempting to contact trackers, and a list of services that frequently monitor user activity across websites.
5. Use Hide My Email
For iCloud+ subscribers, Apple provides the Hide My Email feature, which creates random email addresses when users register for websites or online services.
Emails sent to these random addresses are automatically forwarded to the user's main email account without revealing their actual email address.
The feature can help reduce spam risks and prevent email addresses from being misused after being shared with multiple online platforms.
6. Store Passwords in the Passwords App
Instead of saving passwords in notes or using the same password across multiple accounts, users can store them securely in Apple's Passwords app.
The app can generate strong passwords, store credentials in encrypted form, and sync them across Apple devices linked to the same account.
Using a password manager helps users maintain unique passwords for different accounts while reducing the risk of account breaches.
7. Automatically Filter Spam Messages
Apple also provides spam filtering features in the Messages app through Unknown Senders and spam detection tools.
When activated through Settings, messages from unknown senders or suspected spam accounts are separated from regular conversations.
The feature helps users reduce exposure to fraudulent messages, phishing attempts, and scams sent through SMS or iMessage.
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