iPhone Settings You Should Change: Here’s Why
Regardless of how long you’ve been using your iPhone, there are certain features and toggles that should be disabled for privacy and security reasons. In this blog post, we outline the top iPhone settings that you should change right away. If you have any questions or need support with your Apple products, contact TechMonk today!
1. Disable Location Services
Location services uses GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi networks to pinpoint where the user is located. This can be extremely useful for navigation purposes but can also leave your device vulnerable if someone were to gain access to it and see where you’re spending time. To turn off location services, head over to “Settings > Privacy > Location Services” and toggle the switch off.
2. Disable Siri Suggestions in Search
Siri Suggestions in search allows Siri to suggest apps, contacts, news articles etc., based on what it knows about your usage patterns. While this can be a great feature when used properly, it also means that Siri is collecting data about you which can then be used by third parties without your knowledge or consent. To turn off Siri Suggestions in Search, go to “Settings > Siri & Search” and toggle the switch off.
3. Disable Advertising Tracking
Advertising tracking allows third-party companies such as Google and Facebook to track what apps you use and what websites you visit so they can serve more relevant ads to you. To turn off advertising tracking (also known as Identifier for Advertisers or IDFA), head over to “Settings > Privacy > Advertising” and toggle the switch off.
4. Turn Off Background App Refresh
Background app refresh allows apps running in the background of your phone to update their content even when they are not actively being used by the user. This feature drains battery life as well as data usage so it is best practice to turn it off unless an app requires it specifically for its functionality (such as social media apps). To turn this feature off head over to “Settings > General > Background App Refresh” and toggle the switch off for all apps that don't require this feature specifically for their full functionality.
Keeping up with changes in technology is important but so too is maintaining a secure phone environment – especially if sensitive information lives on it or if it's being shared amongst multiple people within a family setting or a business setting. The aforementioned items are just some of many settings available on iPhones that should be changed right away for maximum privacy protection – contact TechMonk today for any further assistance needed!