It’s incredibly important to take advantage of iPhone privacy settings. These privacy settings exist for a good reason: if your phone is compromised and your data is stolen, a whole lot of personal information can get out there in the world. Your banking information can become known, as well as your contacts, messages, and passwords for every single website you frequent.
One of the best ways you can safeguard yourself is by changing certain iPhone privacy settings, as outlined by tech experts Payette Forward:
Here are some of the most important iPhone privacy settings to change ASAP.
Trackings
Tap on Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking. Here you’ll see an option for “Allow Apps to Request to Track” you. You can disable this all at once at the top or go one by one into each app and disable it for the apps you don’t want to track you (such as Facebook). Not allowing them to track you means they can’t follow your online activity as you search up keywords, which is information they can then sell to advertisers to target you with ads.
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Turn Off Personalized Ads
Turning off personalized ads not only makes your user experience less annoying, but it helps you remain more private. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Apple Advertising. Here you’ll have the option of enabling or disabling “Personalized Ads.” The less information Apple has about you, the less valuable you are to target with ads. Disabling this feature may result in your seeing fewer ads — a win for you and your privacy.
Analytics
Apple would love it if you sent your diagnostic and usage data to the company each and every day. And while Apple claims this is only designed to enhance their ability to improve your user experience, there’s no denying it relies on your personal information getting out there. If you aren’t comfortable with this, tap on Settings > Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements. Here you can disable the top switch that reads “Share iPhone & Watch Analytics.” This ensures you aren’t sharing this information with Apple.
You can take steps to help ramp up your own personal security when using your iPhone. Changing your privacy settings (and being aware of the ones that can help keep your data safe) is your first step.
