5 Security and Privacy Features in iOS 12 You Should Know About

On Sept. 12 Apple hosted its annual keynote where the company announced its newest products and services including the iOS 12 software update for iPhones and iPads. While aesthetically not much has changed with this update, Apple really took the time to make security and privacy a priority in this new software, allowing users to use their devices knowing sensitive information is safe. If you’re looking to take advantage of the new security features Apple is offering, here are five new tools that caught our eye. USB restricted mode This new mode will stop USB devices like headphones or USB cables from being plugged into a phone that’s been locked for more than an hour. Turning on this feature will stop police or hackers from being able to bypass your lock screen and access information in your phone. To take advantage of this setting, go to your iPhone or iPad Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. You’ll then be asked to type in your passcode, once that is done scroll down and make sure the setting that allows USB accessories to be used on the lock screen are off. Safari prevents cross-site tracking In previous iterations of the operating system, advertisers were able to track what website a user visited throughout a session. Now, Safari uses new “intelligent tracking prevention” technology that blocks advertisers from following you from site to site. This stops digital advertisers from building a personal profile on you based on your web browsing habits, making it harder for advertisers to serve targeted ads to you. This allows users to browse without worry. No need to go to your settings to turn this feature on, it’s done automatically once the software is updated. Longer passcodes The option to create a 6-digit passcode to unlock your phone was introduced in the iOS 9 update. Now, users will be able to choose between a 4-digit numeric code, a custom numeric code or a custom alphanumeric code. Increasing passcode options makes it more difficult for others to guess your passcode, further securing info stored on your phone. To upgrade from the 4-digit passcode go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, type in your passcode, select Change Passcode and pick the passcode length and type that works best for you. Manage frequently used passwords The update to iOS 12’s password manager allows you to take an audit of your passwords, this will show you how frequently you use the same password for multiple websites. Having a variety of passwords will deter hackers from being able to access your personal information by using the same password. Take advantage of the feature by going to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords and enter your passcode when prompted. You’ll then see a screen with the log in credentials for the sites you visit, a warning symbol will appear next to any password that is used multiple times. You can change frequently used passwords by clicking Change Password on Website. Control saved autofill data If you’re a frequent online shopper, or do a lot of business on your phone, the ability to auto-fill credit card information or an address can be very convenient. However, if you’re wanting to control what gets auto-filled go to Settings > Safari > AutoFill. From there, you’ll be able to see what current information is saved and edit anything you don’t want Safari to autofill