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Experts Say Changing This One Setting On Your iPhone Will Stop Hackers From Spying On Your Device: ‘Extreme Security Mode’

November 30, 2024 by Lisa Cupido
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If you’ve ever gotten the strange feeling that someone is hacking your phone or spying on you, there’s one iPhone setting that can help.

The setting is called Extreme Security Mode and it’s one you may not have heard of yet, but it can make a huge difference in the privacy and security of your device. If you’re at an elevated risk of cyber attacks, this is one setting that you need to know about and use to your advantage.

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Here’s everything you need to know about this setting, including why it’s a good idea to enable it.

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Lockdown Mode or Extreme Security Mode

 


Open Settings and go to Privacy and Security. Scroll down all the way and tap on Lockdown Mode. Turning on Lockdown Mode will prompt your iPhone to enable something called Extreme Security Mode. This setting limits attackers by disabling certain features on your phone. It’s most often used by people who may have sensitive information on their phone, like journalists and government officials. When Extreme Security Mode is enabled, the following features are affected:

 


Web Browsing

 


Some web technologies and websites may be blocked for your security.

 


Messages

 


Most message attachments, like images and videos, will be blocked.

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Other Limited Features

 


Other features that will be limited include:

 


FaceTime and Phone Calls

 


Unknown numbers will be blocked.

 


Incoming Third-Party Connections

 


These will be restricted to prevent hackers from reaching you via a third-party source.

 


Shared Albums

 


All shared albums in photos will be removed.

 


You’ll sacrifice a few great features, but this setting can help protect you from the devastating effects of getting hacked.

Author:

Lisa Fogarty is a lifestyle writer and reporter based in New York who covers health, wellness, relationships, sex, beauty, and parenting.

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