Imagine that you are in a crowded place. You do not notice,
but someone is watching you and learns your iPhone passcode. Then, they steal
your phone. Suddenly, your photos, documents, financial information, and the
rest of your digital life have been taken from you.
A new security feature may prevent such a situation from
happening. Apple, the iPhone maker, recently released an update to its iOS
operating system. It has a new feature called Stolen Device Protection. The
feature makes it a lot harder for phone thieves to open the
device and access important functions and settings.
The company is urging users to turn this feature on
immediately. Here is how to turn on the new security feature and why it is so
important to do so.
Should I turn on Stolen Device Protection?
Stolen Device Protection is a new setting that is included
with the latest iOS release, version 17.3. The update for iPhones and iPads
includes a new feature designed to prevent thieves from wiping phones
for resale or getting to your Apple ID or other important accounts.
Apple says the feature adds extra security for users. It
addresses a vulnerability that thieves have used to lock
device owners out of their Apple accounts, delete their photos
and other files from their iCloud, and take money from their bank accounts.
How does it work?
Stolen Device Protection keeps track of a
user’s “familiar locations,” such as their home or workplace. The feature adds
extra biometric security if someone tries to use the device to do certain
things away from those places.
It also reduces the importance of passcodes. Instead, it
favors “biometric” features such as faces or fingerprints, which are a lot
harder to copy.
If a thief tries to erase or reset an
iPhone, the device will require a Face ID or Touch ID scan to confirm that the
person is the rightful owner. The new feature does not let someone use the
passcode or any other backup method.
Another part of the new feature is designed to slow down
thieves trying to change security settings. For example, if someone tries to
sign out of an Apple ID account, change the passcode or reset the phone in an
unfamiliar location, they will have to authenticate using
Face ID or Touch ID, wait an hour, and then do a second facial or fingerprint
scan.
Changing an Apple ID password, updating Apple ID security
settings, adding or removing Face or Touch ID, and turning off the Find My
device feature or Stolen Device Protection also will trigger this
feature.
Apple said the delay is meant to prevent a thief from
performing these operations so you can mark your device as lost and secure your
Apple account.
The company added that, “When your iPhone is in a familiar
location, these additional steps will not be required and you can use your
device passcode like normal. Get Special
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