Privacy and security haven’t always been hallmark features that smartphone developers focused on until research began to show how much data certain websites and digital services are taking from us. Then, the conversation around iPhones, social media, and general digital privacy became a lot more nuanced, and developers decided to invest heavily in ensuring their users stay safe at all times. Apple has made vast improvements in how it tries and keep us safe from excessive malicious trackers and third parties siphoning massive amounts of data. With its latest update, the new iOS 16 security features look to give us even more control over our data and how we stay protected while using our devices.
Here are some new and updated iOS 16 security features you may have missed.
Protect Photos and Notes With Face ID
One of the most annoying things in the world is having someone take your phone and start sifting through your photos or other apps. You may have photos that contain sensitive information or you may just want to protect certain photos and notes from ever being seen. These protections can also apply if, for any reason, a third party gained access to your iOS device. You’ve been able to “hide” photos in a separate hidden photos folder for ages, but it wasn’t really protected until the new iOS 16 update, where you need Face ID to open it. To enable the Face ID protection for photos and notes, follow the steps below.
For photos:
Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
Navigate to Photos.
Turn on Use Face ID by toggling it.
Now, go to the Photos app.
Scroll down until you see the Hidden and Recently Deleted folders. They should have a lock next to them. To access them, you’ll need Face ID.
To hide photos, select the photo and tap on the three dots icon in the top right. Tap on Hide.
For notes:
Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
Navigate to Notes.
Tap on Password.
Choose the Notes account you want to use: iCloud notes or locally stored ones.
Enable Face ID by toggling it.
Clipboard Permissions
Apple has implemented the user permissions feature for quite some time. The feature requires you to allow third parties to access certain functions, such as your microphone, camera, or location. Now, one of iOS 16’s security features includes your copy and paste clipboard information as sensitive information that requires your permission for third parties to access.
Safety Check
The new Safety Check feature is a great way for you to review all necessary security aspects of your iOS device. When you go to the Safety Check screen, Apple goes through certain aspects of your phone so that you can review which apps are tracking what information, change necessary passwords, along with other changes. To access this review, follow these steps:
Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
Scroll until you see Privacy & Security.
Scroll down to Safety Check.
You’ll see Emergency Reset and Manage Sharing & Access. Emergency Reset is reserved for when you want to clear all permissions immediately and review your entire account’s security. Manage Sharing & Access is a more casual way to review what information is being accessed by who and change your passwords.
Lockdown Mode
Lockdown Mode is Apple’s answer to extremely vulnerable individuals who need to protect themselves completely from cyberattacks. We must iterate: Lockdown Mode is not for everybody. This function should be reserved for activists, journalists, or other vulnerable individuals who may be a target of cyberattacks. By enabling this feature, you severely limit the functionality of your iOS device in favor of security. You won’t be able to access known untrustworthy websites, attachments in iMessage, Facetime calls are blocked, and a whole load of permissions and configurations become reset and locked. Essentially, you’re using a factory reset “burner” phone when in Lockdown Mode.
Security Response
In previous iOS iterations, you’d have to fully update your device to take advantage of any security updates or patches. But iOS 16 makes it easier to enjoy a fully protected smartphone without having to go through a potentially arduous full software update. You can toggle the Install Security Responses & System Files easily by following these steps:
Open the Settings app on your iOS device.
Navigate to the General tab.
Tap on Software Update.
Tap on Automatic Updates.
Toggle Security Responses & System Files.
Passkeys
Passkeys are the next step in the evolution of internet privacy. For so long, we’ve used a system of user-generated passwords for websites that aren’t encrypted well enough, and any data leaks mean that hackers have instant access to your account information. Although the Passkeys update wasn’t included in the first version of iOS, Apple claim it’ll be functional later in 2022. Basically, the website server has one key and you have one kept on the device. iOS then uses biometric data to authorize your access to a website. Only when the two keys match can you access the website, meaning any website-side leaks won’t affect you, as you have your own private key that hackers would need access to as well.
It sounds super complicated, with iCloud integration, two-factor authentication, passkey encryptions, and the lot, but essentially it works exactly like Face ID. We guarantee that the process will be super simple for all users. Whenever high-end security features become easily accessible, it’s a net positive for digital users. Apple is partnering with major companies like Google and Microsoft to ensure that the passkey functions work on non-Apple services, too.
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