Everyone Must Use the IOS 16 Security Check Feature
With iOS 16 , Apple is adding even more privacy-focused features to your iPhone. We’ve already discussed lockdown mode , which protects your data when you suspect you might be the target of a sophisticated cyberattack. Not exactly a universal use case, but another new feature, Security Check, can be useful to anyone with an iPhone. This allows you to quickly see who has access to data on your device, including your location, shared notes, and home access, and revoke those permissions immediately.
Previously, you had to manually find things like shared calendars and notes and remove people from them one by one. All other security settings used to be located in different places too. With security checks, iOS 16 does all the work for you and reduces the risk of someone accessing your information without your permission.
Why You Should Use the iOS 16 Security Review Feature
Security Check is the security center of your iPhone. You should check it regularly to make sure that unauthorized devices or people do not have access to your data and activities. It lets you see which apps have access to your iPhone’s sensors and your personal data, and lets you make sure that unused apps don’t access that information without your knowledge.
By browsing this section, you can easily remove people from the public. If you forget that others can see some of your notes or calendar entries, you may be allowing them to see more of your data than you intended. In addition, people with access to the Home app can control smart devices in your home, such as lights, doors, and smart speakers. This can lead to unwanted situations, such as your ex seeing your shopping lists or travel plans, or fiddling with smart devices in your home.
A security check can also prevent you from accidentally spamming people. When you share notes with others , they are notified each time you make changes. If you’ve been using Notes to collaborate on vacation planning, the shared note won’t be useful after you’ve completed your trip. If someone accidentally opens this note and changes something by mistake, everyone will get an annoying notification.
How to Use Security Check in iOS 16
Since the security check is a feature of iOS 16, you’ll need to install the iOS 16 beta for now to test it out. If you’re comfortable taking the risks associated with beta software, follow our instructions here to download and install the latest iOS 16 beta on your iPhone.
To use the security check, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Security Check on iPhone. You can go to Manage Sharing and Access to get started.
Click ” Continue ” on the next page and your iPhone will show you the list of people you’ve shared notes or calendars with. You can select the ones you want to remove and then go to the Info tab on the same page.
On the Sharing page, you can see how many people have access to shared calendars, notes, or your home app. Select one of them and tap Share Feedback . Select the entries again on the next page and tap Stop Sharing . You will need to press this button again to confirm this.
On the next page, you will be able to see which apps have access to your data and sensors on your iPhone. Your best bet is to go to the Info tab, select each category, and click Stop Access to Application .
On the last page, you will be asked to check the security of your account. Make sure all devices listed on this page belong to you and that you are using them. If you have sold or given away any of the devices listed on this page, please select and remove them. Do the same if any of the devices are owned by someone else.
Your iPhone will then ask you to check if your trusted phone number and emergency contacts are up to date. Keep only those people you trust and remove the rest. You will also be asked if you want to update your Apple ID password and your iPhone password.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to make sure that no one has access to any of your data, you can click Emergency Reset. This option immediately resets access to all of these settings at the same time. This is a drastic step, but it may be necessary depending on the circumstances.
Once completed, you can be sure that your iPhone information cannot be accessed without your permission. If you continue to use the security check feature once every few months (if not more often), you can rest easy knowing that your data is safe.