How to Protect Your Privacy on iOS (iPhone & iPad)
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1. Lock your device with a passcode longer than 4 digits.
Let’s start off with the entry point to your phone — the passcode. A custom one will give you the choice of alphanumeric characters and the ability to make it longer than the usual 4 characters.
How: Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode > Passcode Options > We suggest choosing a “custom alphanumeric code”.
3. Don’t show notifications in the lock screen for sensitive apps.
Even if your phone is not stolen, your private messages could be seen by others as notifications on the lock screen. These notifications can be turned on or off for each app.
How: Settings > Notifications > [app name] > Show on Lock Screen
4. Turn off “Share My Location.”
Your phone goes everywhere with you and shares that information with family and friends. Turning this off will protect your location data should your family and friends’ devices ever get into the wrong hands.
How: Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Share My Location
5. Turn off location services for things that don't need them.
Sometimes apps seem excessively hungry for our data, including location. You can switch off their access to your location one by one. You should also check access granted to built-in services that may be unnecessary.
How: Settings > Privacy > Location Services (> optionally System Services)
9. Turn on “Limit ad tracking”.
Ad tracking is used by advertising networks to target ads at you in apps. Limiting this restricts tracking of ads across apps.
How: Settings > Privacy > Advertising > Select “limit ad tracking”
10. Reset your advertising identifier from time to time.
The above “Limit ad tracking” setting relies on the honesty of app developers. You can add an extra layer of privacy protection by resetting the ad identifier for your device.
How: Settings > Privacy > Advertising > Reset Advertising Identifier
11. Install a privacy-focused browser like DuckDuckGo.
DuckDuckGo’s Private browser has built-in tracker network blocking, smarter
encryption, and, of course, private search, all designed to operate seamlessly
together while you search and browse the web.
How: Get the extension for popular browsers from https://duckduckgo.com/app