Security

The most secure way to protect personal information on an iPhone is with a strong passcode. While Face ID and Touch ID make it convenient to access devices on a daily basis, in some situations forcing a passcode requirement improves security. Forcing passcode entry is more difficult than invoking Face ID or Touch ID against the device owner's will.

Holding an iPhone up in front of someone's face can easily unlock the device. In similar fashion, all it takes is one fingerprint to render everything accessible from the iPhone home screen.

When it comes to iOS security updates, the answer is always to install the latest software as soon as possible. iOS 14.8 is no different, however the launch of iOS 15 is only days away. While iOS 14.8 patches a serious iPhone vulnerability, the same problem is also fixed in iOS 15. iPhone owners currently running iOS 14 have two choices when it comes to dealing with this security threat.

Apple Watch owners have a new option to easily unlock their iPhones when wearing a face mask. The global pandemic has made it more difficult to unlock iPhones using Face ID, given that the TrueDepth camera looks to match an entire face. With the mouth and nose covered, this process mostly ends up with the user entering a passcode. Some have tried to train their iPhones to recognize a mask, but there is a more secure way.

The investment app Robinhood has made waves across markets as a simple way for smartphone owners to buy and sell stocks. As more people sign up for accounts, new users of Robinhood must keep in mind their security. As with all financial apps, extra precautions such as two-factor authentication (2FA) can help restrict unwanted account access. Using 2FA on Robinhood is highly recommended.

There are several ways to check if someone else has used your iPhone or has access to your iCloud account. If there's any reason to suspect that an unauthorized person has used your device, or if you need to make sure that nobody else has access to your iPhone, start here. Taking the steps below can determine whether or not anyone besides you can sign into your account, see your location, or browse your personal information.