The smartphone has long ceased to be just a means of communication. Today, it stores passwords, banking applications, two-factor authentication codes, email access and digital assets. Therefore, the loss or theft of the device can lead not only to the loss of the phone, but also to the risk of personal data and financial resources.
Cyber security experts note that one of the most common threats is when a malicious person learns the device’s unlock password and then gains physical access to the smartphone. In this case, saved passwords, financial services and other confidential data are at risk.
To reduce these risks, iPhone users are advised to pay attention to two important security features.
Stolen device protection
Stolen Device Protection was created by Apple to prevent unauthorized access to important device settings.
When this function is activated, confirmation via Face ID or Touch ID becomes mandatory to perform a number of actions. These activities include:
* Viewing passwords saved in Keychain,
* Changing Apple ID settings,
* Disabling the “Find My iPhone” function,
* device data deletion.
There is also a one-hour security delay for some Apple Account-related activities, after which biometric verification is required again. This gives the device owner extra time to spot suspicious activity and take protective measures.
Before enabling the function, you need to make sure that the following are activated on the device:
* Apple ID two-step authentication,
* device password,
* Face ID or Touch ID,
* “Find My” (“Find”) function,
* “Significant Locations” feature.
Additionally, you need to have iOS 17.3 or later.
Protection can be activated in the following way:
Settings → Face ID and password → Stolen device protection
Additional account protection with Passkey
In addition to device protection, experts recommend using modern authentication methods for important online services.
One of those solutions is the Passkey technology, which replaces traditional passwords with biometric authentication. To access the account, the user must verify his identity using Face ID or Touch ID, which significantly reduces the possibility of unauthorized access even when the device’s password has become known to third parties.
Many digital platforms, including cryptocurrency services, already support the use of Passkey as an additional layer of protection for a user’s account.
Safety starts with simple steps
Modern threats are more and more often related to simple device theft and password leaks rather than sophisticated hacking attacks. For this very reason, experts recommend regularly checking the security settings of the smartphone and using additional protection mechanisms for important accounts.
Activation of the “Stolen device protection” function and the use of Passkey technology allow you to significantly increase the level of security and reduce the risks of losing access to personal data and digital assets.
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