How to Keep Your iPhone Safe: Apple’s Latest Security Changes

Hi, I’m Fred Wilson, a seasoned blog writer who has been covering iPhone security topics for over five years. I have a passion for helping people protect their privacy and data on their devices. In this article, I will share with you some of the latest security changes that Apple has introduced in iOS 15.4 and iCloud+, and how they can help you keep your iPhone safe and secure.

What’s New in iOS 15.4?

iOS 15.4 is the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system, released on December 13, 2023. It brings a number of new features and improvements to enhance the privacy and security of your iPhone. Here are some of the highlights:

• Safari Private Browsing: Safari now offers advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections when you use Private Browsing mode. This means that websites and advertisers won’t be able to track your online activity or identify your device across different sites. You can also choose to hide your IP address from websites, making it harder for them to determine your location or target you with ads.
• App Privacy Improvements: iOS 15.4 gives you more control over how apps access your data and use your device’s features. You can now see which apps have accessed your microphone, camera, location, contacts, photos, or other sensitive data in the last seven days. You can also revoke or grant permissions for individual apps at any time. Additionally, you can prevent apps from accessing your precise location, and instead provide them with an approximate one.
• iCloud+ Enhancements: iCloud+ is Apple’s premium subscription service that offers extra features and benefits for iCloud users. iOS 15.4 adds some new features to iCloud+, such as:
  • Hide My Email: This feature lets you create and use unique, random email addresses that forward to your personal email. This way, you can sign up for online services or newsletters without revealing your real email address, and avoid spam or unwanted messages. You can also delete or disable any email address at any time.
  • Private Relay: This feature is a built-in VPN service that encrypts and anonymizes your internet traffic. It routes your requests through two separate servers, one operated by Apple and one by a third-party provider. This way, no one, not even Apple or your internet provider, can see what websites you visit or where you are located.
  • HomeKit Secure Video: This feature allows you to securely store and stream video footage from your compatible HomeKit cameras on iCloud. It uses end-to-end encryption, meaning that only you and the people you invite can access your videos. You can also use Siri to control your cameras, view live feeds, or receive notifications.

How to Keep Your iPhone Safe with Apple’s Latest Security Changes?

Now that you know what’s new in iOS 15.4 and iCloud+, you might be wondering how to use these features to keep your iPhone safe and secure. Here are some tips and best practices that you can follow:

• Update Your iPhone to iOS 15.4: The first and most important step is to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. This will ensure that you get the latest security patches, bug fixes, and features that Apple has to offer. To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions.
• Enable Safari Private Browsing: If you want to browse the web without leaving any traces or being tracked by websites and advertisers, you should use Safari’s Private Browsing mode. To enable it, open Safari and tap the tabs icon at the bottom right corner. Then, tap the Private button at the bottom left corner. You will see that the browser’s interface turns dark, indicating that you are in Private Browsing mode. To disable it, tap the Private button again.
• Check and Manage App Privacy Settings: If you want to see and control how apps access your data and use your device’s features, you should check and manage your app privacy settings. To do this, go to Settings > Privacy and tap on any category, such as Location Services, Microphone, or Photos. You will see a list of apps that have requested or been granted access to that category. You can tap on any app to see more details, and revoke or grant permissions as you wish. You can also tap on the App Privacy Report option at the bottom to see a summary of app privacy activity in the last seven days.
• Subscribe to iCloud+: If you want to enjoy the extra features and benefits that iCloud+ offers, such as Hide My Email, Private Relay, and HomeKit Secure Video, you should subscribe to iCloud+. To do this, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and tap on the Upgrade to iCloud+ option. You will see the different plans and prices that are available, starting from $0.99 per month for 50 GB of storage. Choose the plan that suits your needs and follow the instructions to complete the subscription.

What are the Benefits of Apple’s Latest Security Changes?

You might be wondering what are the benefits of using Apple’s latest security changes to keep your iPhone safe and secure. Here are some of the advantages that you can expect:

• Protect Your Privacy and Data: By using Apple’s latest security changes, you can protect your privacy and data from prying eyes and malicious actors. You can prevent websites and advertisers from tracking your online activity or identifying your device, you can limit or block apps from accessing your sensitive data or device features, and you can encrypt and anonymize your internet traffic. You can also use unique, random email addresses to sign up for online services or newsletters, and securely store and stream video footage from your HomeKit cameras on iCloud.
• Enhance Your User Experience and Convenience: By using Apple’s latest security changes, you can also enhance your user experience and convenience. You can browse the web faster and smoother with Safari’s advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections, you can easily see and manage your app privacy settings and activity, and you can use Siri to control your HomeKit cameras, view live feeds, or receive notifications. You can also create and use multiple email addresses for different purposes, and access them from any device with iCloud.
• Save Money and Storage Space: By using Apple’s latest security changes, you can also save money and storage space. You can avoid paying for third-party VPN services or email providers, as iCloud+ offers them for free. You can also save storage space on your iPhone or local devices, as iCloud+ allows you to securely store and stream video footage from your HomeKit cameras on iCloud.

Summary

In this article, I have shared with you some of the latest security changes that Apple has introduced in iOS 15.4 and iCloud+, and how they can help you keep your iPhone safe and secure. I have also given you some tips and best practices on how to use these features, and some of the benefits that you can expect. I hope you have found this article useful and informative. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!