Apple just released iOS 17.3 and the latest iPhone software update comes with an important feature that can prevent thieves from accessing sensitive data stored on your device. With that enabled, it can help keep your vital information safe from prying eyes.
The feature is called Stolen Device Protection. When enabled, it adds extra security steps to a range of features. For example, accessing things like stored credit card information and account passwords now requires biometric authentication (such as Face ID or Touch ID), without the ability to use a passcode. That means only you can retrieve these items, even if you lose your phone to someone who knows your passcode.
Additionally, some security-related actions (such as changing your Apple ID password) require you to wait an hour and then pass a second biometric authentication test. That should make it harder for an intruder to interfere with your device, and also give you more time to mark your device as lost or wipe it remotely to prevent your data from falling into the wrong hands.
Stolen device protection is designed to protect you not only from a thief who has your device, but also from a thief who has your device And knows your access code. Even if they can get into your iPhone, they cannot extract or modify your most sensitive data.
All of these things only happen when your iPhone is away from what Apple calls “known locations,” like your home and workplace. That ensures you aren’t constantly bothered with the extra security steps as you make changes, while still hindering the efforts of thieves if they take your device to an unknown place.
Enable stolen device protection
Stolen Device Protection comes with iOS 17.3, but must be enabled before it can be used. To do this, open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Face ID and passcode. Enter your device passcode and then scroll down to Protection against stolen devices and select Enable protection. To disable this, tap Turn off security. Disabling this will require a Face ID scan.
To download iOS 17.3, open the Settings app and select General > Software Update. Your iPhone will tell you if iOS 17.3 is available for download. If so, follow the onscreen instructions and wait for your device to install the update and restart.
In addition to the features we mentioned above, Stolen Device Protection adds extra security steps for a handful of other actions, including turning off Lost Mode, applying for a new Apple Card, resetting all settings, and more. Apple has a full list of the included actions on its support page.
It’s usually a good idea to enable these types of security features as they help make your iPhone more secure and more difficult to break into. In this case, it only takes a few seconds to enable Stolen Device Protection, but it can save you from serious security problems in the long run.