iOS devices are easy to secure. By following a few simple tips, you can almost guarantee that your iOS mobile device will be more secure than any PC you’ve ever owned.
- Don’t jailbreak your phone
- Only use secure wifi
- Enable auto updates
- Lock your iPhone
Don’t Jailbreak It
Jailbreaking an iOS device is the equivalent of rooting an Android device. It removes limitations, allows exploits and removes every layer of quality security from your iOS device. The ends don’t justify the means; a few Easter eggs and bonuses aren’t worth the cost.
One reason that many people jailbreak their iOS device is so they can customize it. If customizing your device is so important to you, you’re using the wrong ecosystem. Apple’s mobile devices are a work of art, but customization isn’t one of their strong points.
Another reason is to be able to download banned apps. Apple employs a strong hand when it comes to approving apps. Again, if this is an issue, you’re in the wrong place. Don’t jailbreak your iPhone so you can download a few cool apps.
Jailbreaking an iOS device is essentially removing the security sandbox that protects your device. You immediately expose your device to malware – something that is nearly impossible on iOS. iOS has an impeccable track record when it comes to malware and viruses. Jailbroken phones are known to have stability issues. Finally, consider your warranty null and void.
Only Use Secure Wifi
The unsecure wifi connection is the weak link of mobile devices and BYOD. Here’s why – a hacker with malicious intent can pretend to be a wifi hotspot. Let’s say you are at a mall and sit down at a restaurant to kill some time. You look for a wifi hotspot and connect. A hacker within range of your device (and hundreds of others) poses as a wifi hotspot and gladly allows you to connect. Within minutes, he gains access to everything on your device – passwords, personal information and whatever else is there. This is commonly known as the “man in the middle attack.” It is sort of like delivering a letter to a fake courier in a spy film.
Auto Updates
Do you have the time to read about every potential security flaw? I didn’t think so. The best way to ensure that your iOS device has every security patch is to enable auto updates. This is a new feature on iOS 7. Click on Settings and look for the Updates option. You can make sure your device only downloads updates via wifi so they don’t eat into your data plan.
Lock Your iPhone
iPhone 5 allows you to create a Touch ID with your fingerprint. Even if you don’t want to go that far, you can protect your phone with a passcode lock. You won’t need to enter it every time you access your phone – only upon boot, when you haven’t used it for 48 hours and a few other situations. Choose a complex password and not the same one that you use for social networks. Your iOS device should use a banking style password that isn’t just a simple word.
As you can see, iOS is one of the easiest operating systems for casual users to secure. Follow these steps and your device will be malware-free!