10 iPhone Privacy Settings Every User Should Enable for Uncompromised Privacy

The overview of privacy settings on iPhone

All in all, iPhones are considered more private and secure compared to their main rival – Android (for more details, read our comparison of iOS vs. Android security). But is this an honest assessment or a misleading stereotype?

To answer this question, let’s briefly overview the main aspects regarding iPhones’ privacy.

• App sandbox. Since the release of iOS 12, Apple users have been able to manage and control the amount of sensitive data accessible to the application on their iPhones.
• Source code. iOS has a closed source code, meaning that third-party developers can’t access it. This means that nobody can modify and harm the code externally. On the other hand, it somewhat limits Apple’s ability to improve its security system and address potential vulnerabilities.
• OS and software updates. iPhones and other iOS devices get regular updates several times a year. Every update’s lifecycle is up to 5 years, ensuring consistency and stability of the operating system.
• App Store. Apple’s internal marketplace rules are pretty strict, requiring third-party developers to stick to particular security and privacy standards. It reduces the chances for malicious apps to slip inside, ending up on your iPhone.
• Smartphone security. According to some surveys, Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 14 are considered the safest smartphones to date, according to 32% of users. The new iPhone 15, which will be released in September 2023, has even more promising privacy and anti-spyware updates, as the latest Apple press release claims.

As you can see, iOS has a bunch of decent features and capabilities to gain more privacy and safeguard your data. However, it’s not a silver bullet against all possible risks, such as phishing, hacker attacks, and malware. So, how to change privacy settings on an iPhone to protect yourself from potential threats? Let‘s look at the main tools and features you can adjust to use your phone with peace of mind.

1. Control app settings

As mentioned, you can control and manage the app’s permissions on your iPhone. This way, you will know how much personal information every application can use and limit it to enhance your privacy. In particular, you can disable the apps’ access to the following data:

• Location
• Microphone
• Camera
• Photos
• Contacts, and more.

Here’s how to adjust app permissions on an iPhone:

1. Open Settings > Privacy & Security.

2. Pick the data type your apps can access (for instance, Microphone).

3. Select apps from the list and toggle the ones you want to disable.

2. Limit location monitoring

Your location stands apart from other types of data iPhone applications can monitor. Of course, programs like Weather, Maps, and Wallet need access to your current location to function properly. However, your whereabouts might actually be tracked even by applications that don’t need this information at all.

To change your iPhone privacy settings on tracking location, take these simple steps:

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings.
2. Open Privacy & Security.
3. Select Location Services.

4. Choose a particular app.

5. Decide when you want this specific app to track your location. For instance, some applications, such as Weather, may have access to it only when you’re using them.

Another tricky location-tracking feature on an iPhone is Significant Locations. It saves your most common whereabouts on your phone, allowing it to provide more personalized services. Luckily, you can also manage it the following way:

1. Go back to Location Services.
2. Open System Services.

3. Head to Significant Locations and disable it.

Want to change your iPhone location? Read our recent blog post to learn how!

3. Prevent photo location tracking

Every picture you take contains lots of metadata, including information about your location. And guess what? Every user you share a photo with can learn this information with ease! 

But do you really want to expose the location of your home, workplace, or restaurant where you like to hang out with your friends? If not, it’s easy to prevent anybody from accessing this info when uploading a photo on social media or a messaging app like Facebook or Snapchat – here’s how:

1. After selecting a specific photo, tap Options on the top right corner of your screen.

2. Under Include, toggle off All Photos Data.

4. Manage the data you share

As with any other tech corporation, Apple collects specific information about its users. In general, it’s not a bad thing at all. This data helps developers improve their products and services by analyzing your behavior when using various apps. But if you want to achieve the maximum level of your iPhone privacy, here’s how to stop sharing this information:

1. Open Settings.
2. Head to Privacy & Security.
3. Select Analytics & Improvement.

4. Toggle off the unwanted monitoring (including Share iPhone Analytics, Share with App Developers, Improve Siri & Dictation, and more).

5. Disable Siri

Siri was a true breakthrough at the time Apple first introduced this feature back in October 2011. It was the very first smartphone virtual assistant, followed by similar solutions developed by Google (Google Assistant) and Amazon (Alexa). However, it has also become one of the main privacy concerns for smartphone users. 

The problem is that such programs recognize specific hot words to trigger particular actions, which makes many believe that a phone can actually listen to our conversations. In particular, Apple was criticized for a real incident in 2019 – the company’s employees snooped on some users with the help of Siri. 

Wondering whether your phone is listening to you? Read our recent blog post on this topic to find out!

But whether you believe it or not, it’s always better to take some extra security precautions. Luckily, there’s a way to make sure nobody can use your private conversations to bombard you with tons of personalized ads later on. Here’s how to disable Siri on your iPhone:

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Open Siri & Search.

3. Turn off Listen for “Hey Siri” and Press Side Button for Siri.

6. Avoid Bluetooth tracking

Bluetooth data monitoring is no less tricky as it also allows third-party applications to interfere with your privacy. Besides, keeping your Bluetooth on when you’re not using it drains your iPhone’s battery. 

Here’s how to disable Bluetooth tracking on an iPhone:

1. Open your phone’s Settings.
2. Head to Privacy & Security.
3. Select Bluetooth.

4. Disable it for unwanted applications.

Consider which applications can access your Bluetooth data. A good reason for that is the need to connect to your AirPods or other accessories. Also, video apps like YouTube may need permission to connect to dongles, such as Chromecast. But when it comes to applications like Facebook, it may ask for Bluetooth access just to track your location. 

7. Enable the USB Restricted mode

Connecting your iPhone to an unverified device via a USB cord may result in sensitive data loss. This security challenge is known as a juice-jacking attack. Cybercriminals turn to this malicious technique to compromise users’ devices, affecting them with malware or stealing confidential information, from account passwords to credit card details. It’s particularly dangerous if you travel a lot and tend to charge your phone using third-party charging ports.

The good news is that you can protect your iPhone by enabling the USB Restricted mode. This feature prevents users from exposing data through malicious USB connections. Here’s how to enable it:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.

3. Enter your passcode, find USB Accessories, and toggle it off.

8. Use the Find My iPhone feature

This essential feature is your lifeline if you lose your iPhone or someone has stolen it. Find My iPhone allows you to spot your phone’s location from another device or web browser, as well as remove all your data so that it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands. Therefore, make sure you turned on Find My iPhone, especially while away from home.

Here is how to enable this feature:

1. Head to Settings > Privacy & Security.
2. Tap Location Services.

3. Open Find My.

4. Tap Find My iPhone.

5. Toggle on Find My iPhone, Find My Network, and Send Last Location.

You may also need to improve your privacy screen iPhone settings. In particular, come up with a strong and unique passcode and make sure your phone locks in 15 seconds. These simple measures can save the day if somebody steals your device.

9. Allow for automatic software updates

We already mentioned that Apple regularly introduces software updates and patches to address security flaws and vulnerabilities. But these improvements won’t save the day if you forget to update your phone as soon as possible. Otherwise, hackers may exploit the existing weaknesses and infect your device with dangerous malware or virus. 

To be sure that your phone is running the latest versions of OS and software, follow these steps:

1. Head to Settings > General.
2. Select Software Update and check for the latest updates.

If there’s an update available, you will see a corresponding notification. 

Besides, if you don’t want to miss out on anything important, you can allow for automatic updates. Here’s how:

1. Go back to Settings > General > Software Update.

2. Toggle on the Automatic Updates function.

10. Use a VPN

Although iPhones don’t have a built-in VPN (virtual private network) feature, you can get a third-party VPN service to protect your privacy. Why do you need one? Well, the thing is that there are much more risks of being monitored or hacked online than some basic browser privacy settings on an iPhone can prevent. And that’s where a VPN comes into play. 

A VPN is a powerful solution that hides your IP address and reroutes your Internet traffic through a remote server. It creates a secure encrypted tunnel and sends all your data through it, so it’s nearly impossible for a snooper to compromise your online activities. What’s more, a VPN is a decent cybersecurity tool that helps avoid various risks, from phishing and malware to malicious ads and pop-ups (for instance, iPhone Calendar virus).

Note, though, that not all VPNs are worth your trust. Pick a service that adheres to a strict No Logs policy (doesn’t record and store your sensitive information) and a good number of privacy and security features, including Kill Switch and AES-256 encryption. That said, we recommend VeePN – a reputable VPN service with all the mentioned functions and many more in place. 

Now, let’s find out how to get started with a VPN on an iPhone.

How to set up a VPN on iPhone

Here’s how to set up VeePN on your iPhone in a few simple steps:

1. Choose the optimal pricing plan and sign up for VeePN.

1. Download and install VeePN for iOS from App Store.
2. Open the VeePN app on your iPhone.

3. Select the preferred server location. For instance, if you want to get an Italian IP address, select Italy from the list – and you’re all set. Alternatively, you can use the Optimal Location feature to connect to the closest server for the fastest connection possible.

4. Turn your VPN on and enjoy private browsing on your iPhone.

Note that you can use VeePN on iOS 10 or later. For more information, read our comprehensive guide on how to use a VPN on iPhone.

Want to test out VeePN? Pick the most suitable plan and try VeePN for iPhone with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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