The iPhone has some excellent security features that prevent people from getting access to the physical device. But there are still a number of features on the device that can pose serious Internet security issues. Checking your settings and using the ExpressVPN app for iOS can help you tighten up tour iPhone security so you stay safe online.
Privacy and Security Threats
There are so many virus threats floating around on the Internet these days. Even a new iPhone is very vulnerable to these threats if you don’t take the necessary precautions. But online security isn’t just about keeping hackers and scammers out anymore. We now face very serious privacy concerns these days, from greedy advertisers to government spy agencies. Most people don’t want anyone looking through your work documents, personal files, or other data while you are connected to the Internet. The security holes of the iPhone put you at risk of people snooping on these details. Especially if you often connect to public Wi-Fi, which is the main advantage of the iPhone for people on the go, you are at high risk.
The solution to these data privacy and security threats is a simple one. You need to install a VPN on your iPhone and change some of the phone’s settings to close off known access points that can be manipulated. It is true that there are hundreds of VPN service providers with different packages and pricing. Choosing the best service comes down to your specific needs and priorities. ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs because it opens up all the possibilities of VPN se in a single package. There is no need to go through confusing details of different packages, or to take the trouble of changing your package when your needs change. You just need to install the ExpressVPN iOS app and it has all the options available to you so you can do what you need to do through your VPN connection.
Free and Safe Communication with ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN will not only secure your information but provide you with a range of access options. This is a big bonus of using a VPN, since it is already working to secure your privacy and data. With ExpressVPN, you can enjoy browsing website content that you could not access before. Connecting to an ExpressVPN server let you bypass any Internet restrictions that you face, whether at the office, from a school, or because your country blocks certain websites and services. In addition, you get unlimited speeds and bandwidth, which is not offered by most other VPN services for a reasonable price.
In countries where the Internet is strictly monitored and severely censored, a tool like ExpressVPN is a necessity for people who want to enjoy the full range of options that online services provide. In China, for example, the excessive internet barriers set up by the Chinese government prevent users from logging on to Facebook, Twitter or Skype. They can open the Google search engine, but results are cut down and you cannot find the information you need, which makes a Google search almost useless. With ExpressVPN, you can access any social media network, forum, VoIP service, and more. And you can do this securely without worrying that you will be tracked and reported.
By installing ExpressVPN on your iPhone, you will also be able to reduce your telecom charges by using applications that allow free Internet calls and messaging. Of course, this is also privacy-secured with your communications covered by the VPN’s secure data sharing features. Making phone calls to anyone around the world using apps like Skype, Viber, and Tango is free. This is very useful and economical for any type of user, whether a student, parent, businessman or anyone.
Changing iPhone Settings for Online Security
The latest version of iOS provides several security features that are enabled on the device by default. Some of these settings create loopholes that online hackers and snoopers can take advantage of. With mobile devices like the iPhone being used more and more for mobile browsing on public Internet, the dangers are increasing. Here is a list of settings that you need to check to secure your iPhone.
1. Use a Passcode – In addition to physically securing your device, a passcode can allow you to use the remote data wipe feature.
2. Encrypt your Backups – Secure your backups and the data on your iPhone by encrypting the backups on your computer. You need to be running OS 3.0 for this function, so upgrade if necessary. Access to computer backups is one popular way that people access data stored on secured iPhones. Sync your iPhone and go to the iTunes main sync page. In the Options section, select the checkbox called “Encrypt iPhone backup” and set a password for the backup. Choose a password that is difficult to guess.
3. Enable Remote Data Wipe Using Find My iPhone – iOS 4.2 devices allow you to remotely destroy iPhone data using the Find My iPhone feature through GPS. Of course GPS also poses risks to location tracking when you are using the device, so weigh the options and choose whether or not you want GPS enabled. Remote data wipe does not affect backups. Download Find My iPhone from the AppStore, and add a MobileMe account on Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar > Accounts. Log in with your Apple ID and password, then turn Find My iPhone on. Go to Find My iPhone and log in with your Apple ID and password. You can now use the MobileMe20 website to track your iPhone and use Remote Data Wipe to delete its contents. If you cannot use Find My iPhone, there are workarounds to get it working on the pre-2010 devices, or third-party apps that can help you track, locate, and recover the device.
4. Change the SIM PIN – Your SIM PIN is different form your auto-lock passcode. Changing the SIM PIN prevents remote access to the contents of your SIM card. Go to Settings > Phone then scroll down and select SIM PIN. Turn it on and enter a code.
5. Update Your Software and Firmware – Outdated software and operating systems are easily manipulated. Updating iOS Firmware is not limited to the bug fixes and security fixes released, but include security features to combat new threats. The current firmware version is 4.3.4. Check the current firmware version of your iPhone on Settings > General > About. Track the latest firmware updates released by apple on Twitter or follow the prompts on iTunes for available updates when you connect. Just accept and follow the steps for the update.
6. Don’t Jailbreak Your Phone – Jailbreaking prevents you from updating your firmware. Using jailbroken software is risky because it likely contains backdoor script for malware and secret full control and access to your device. Any self-signed applications can run on the device without validation. Jailbreaking makes your iPhone susceptible to worms and other malicious applications. Applications on a jailbroken device run as root outside of the iOS sandbox and do whatever they please. On the other hand, the jailbreaking community has provided faster fixes than the iPhone development team in several instances like for the zero-day vulnerability in the mobile Safari browser. Weigh your options carefully before you decide on jailbraking your phone.
7. Enable Safari’s Privacy and Security Settings – Go to Settings > Safari and enable the basic security settings. Enable Block Pop-ups to prevent clicking on a malicious pop-up. Disable AutoFill to prevent the caching of sensitive information such as names, passwords, and other details. Enable Fraud Warning for protection from fraudulent sites. Clear cookies, browsing history, and cache regularly. Delete Databases on your iPhone that were created by websites using HTML 5. These databases can disclose sites that you have visited even after clearing your browsing history.
8. Using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Email Securely – If you must use Wi-Fi, your VPN will secure your data and traffic over Wi-Fi connections. Using the VPN also helps keep data usage down and speeds up communications. The VPN keeps the information your device sends across a Wi-Fi network anonymous. Disable Wi-Fi on Settings > General > Wi-Fi when you are not using it. If Wi-Fi is turned on, then the iPhone connects to the Internet automatically. By default, the iPhone retains settings of the associated networks that it connects to. This makes it automatically reconnect the next time it is in range. For Wi-Fi networks that require HTTP(s) forms authentication, this feature will cause the iPhone to persist credentials on disk, which are not secured. Go to Settings > General > Wi-Fi and tap the blue arrow next to the previously associated network SSID, then tap Forget this Network. Repeat as needed. Disable Bluetooth on Settings > General > Bluetooth when you are not using it. Several iPhone applications use Bluetooth to share files and information and for gaming. This open connection can be manipulated to send unsolicited messages or steal sensitive information because you cannot turn off discovery. For Email security, make sure that SSL is enabled when you log in to emails like Hotmail or Gmail. Go to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars, then select the email account. Tap on Advanced and turn on Use SSL option. If you don’t have this option, consider switching to a private email provider.
9. Delete the Keyboard Cache – All the keystrokes entered on an iPhone could potentially get cached for up to 12 months under the /var/mobile/Library/Keyboard/dynamic-text.dat file for auto-correction. Prevent your account numbers, usernames and passwords from getting cached by deleting the keyboard cache on General > Reset. Tap on Reset Keyboard Dictionary and Confirm.
10. Automated Screenshots – Your iPhone takes an automatic screenshot to allow the window of an open application to shrink and disappear when the user taps the Home button. These screenshots are stored in the snapshots directory of the application. The phone deletes the image after you close the application, but deletion does not permanently remove files from a storage device. To prevent sensitive information from being recovered from screenshots, avoid tapping the Home button while viewing sensitive information on the screen. Advanced users can disable screen shot writing permanently, but this requires jailbreaking the iPhone. Use OpenSSH application to gain root privileges and enter the following commands in the prompt:
# rm -rf /var/mobile/Library/Caches/Snapshots
# ln -s /dev/null /var/mobile/Library/Caches/Snapshots
To undo this action, delete the symlink and the directory will get re-created.
11. Enable Restrictions – Use the Restrictions option to lock down some of the iPhone’s capabilities from Settings > General > Restrictions. It preventing users from launching and using or installing and deleting applications, and prevents changes to any accounts.
Employing this layered approach to iPhone security by changing important settings and using a VPN gives you a greater degree of control over who can access your data. The added security that these methods provide also prevent any unknown manipulation of your device. Take the time to explore these options so you can make well-informed decisions regarding the security of your iPhone. There are toher security tips for preventing physical access to your device on the iPhone website. To compare leading VPN services, use our VPN comparison tool. You can select different providers and view the details side by side to get a better picture of their features.