iOS Lock Down

With every successive release of iOS, Apple seems able to devise ways for its mobile devices to make our lives even easier. The trade off, however, is that these devices seem to catalog an ever increasing amount of personal data. Should an iPhone, or other iOS device, be misplaced or picked up by a thief, you’ll not only be out a few hundred bucks—the entirety of your personal data as well as that of your contacts could be jeopardized.

Clearly aware of the large amounts of personal data being stored on iOS devices, Apple has implemented security measures such as ‘Find My iPhone’ and a comprehensive passcode system in every iOS device’s Settings > General page. The former is a free service and app enabling users with compatible iOS devices to track—and even wipe—devices that go missing. The latter bars access to a device until the proper four digit passcode is entered.

While a four digit passcode is the default option most users will select, Apple has built in deeper security for those with especially sensitive data. To change your passcode from a simple four digit scheme to a more complex word or phrase, simply turn ‘Simple Passcode’ off. You will now have access to your device’s QWERTY keyboard to input a text based passcode of your choosing.

Below the option to disable Simple Passcode is an option to turn off Voice Dial (iPhone only). Even though a contact’s name must be clearly spoken to place a Voice Dial call, this feature technically bypasses lock screen security by allowing calls to be made. Although no additional features are available, some users may choose to toggle this feature off for greater peace of mind.

Finally, Apple has included a self destruct mechanism in every iOS device—ok, ok not a Mission Impossible style self destruct, but still pretty cool. The last option in the Passcode Lock menu is dubbed ‘Erase Data,’ and when enabled, will wipe a device after 10 failed passcode attempts. If you choose to enable this feature, however, you had better remember your passcode as your data will be erased if you botch it 10 times. Using this feature can be re-assuring as even the most determined thieves will be permanently prevented from obtaining personal information after 10 failed attempts. As long as you’ve kept a current backup of your device on your Mac, restoring is painless should you ever accidentally wipe your own device.