Better protect your iPhone with iOS 17.3 🔐

Cliquez ici pour lire en français

A new version of iOS 17 is now available, bringing its share of new features and improvements. One in particular stands out, enhancing your iPhone’s protection.

iPhone theft techniques have evolved 😰

One of the iPhone’s key features is theft protection. By locking the iPhone, users can be sure that their data will not be easily accessible if their smartphone is stolen. Over time, however, thieves have developed a number of techniques.

Some thieves have learned to trick people into entering their code in front of them before taking the phone. Others use more sophisticated phishing methods. They send SMS messages to victims and their trusted contacts, containing links to pages imitating the  » Find my iPhone  » website. Once on these fraudulent sites, users are prompted to enter their password, which is then recovered by the iPhone thief. Once the iPhone code is in the hands of the thieves, their entire digital life is exposed.

A new feature to enhance security in the case of theft 🔐

To counter these thefts, iOS 17.3 introduces a new security feature aimed at preventing thieves from snatching your iPhone and quickly accessing your data stored in iCloud, as well as other crucial accounts such as your bank or email. Rather than relying on the lock screen’s security code, protection against stolen devices now requires you to scan your fingerprint or use Face ID when performing certain actions, such as consulting saved passwords or requesting a new Apple Card. If this fails, the code cannot be used.

This feature also introduces a waiting period for more sensitive actions, such as changing the Apple ID password or iPhone passcode. In the iOS 17.3 update notes, Apple states that “Security Delay requires Face ID or Touch ID, an hour wait, and then an additional successful biometric authentication” before allowing the process to be completed. This is to ensure that the person performing this action is indeed the legitimate user.

It should be noted that this extra layer of authentication will only be required on your iPhone when you are away from « familiar locations such as your home or work », according to Apple. The feature is not activated by default. Once you’ve downloaded iOS 17.3, follow the steps below:

• Open the Settings application, scroll down and tap on Face ID & Passcode.
• Authenticate yourself by entering your code
• On the next page, scroll down and activate the « Stolen device protection » option.

If you have an iPhone, you know what you have to do 😉.