 "Data Privacy Day: 10 security and privacy features you need to enable on Apple devices right now")
Not many people are aware of this, but the world observes Data Privacy Day on January 28. The date serves as an important reminder of why it has become necessary in this day and age to take control of one’s personal data and safeguard their privacy.
As threats to privacy grow, it’s essential for users to stay informed about the tools available to protect their data.
For its customers user, Apple offers a suite of privacy features built into its devices. Here are 10 key privacy and security protections you should enable on your Apple devices to ensure your personal information remains safe.
Lock or Hide Apps for Extra Privacy: Sometimes, you don’t want others to access certain apps. Apple allows you to lock or hide apps to prevent others from seeing sensitive content. By locking an app, you can protect it from prying eyes, while hiding it ensures it won’t be visible when you share your screen. This is especially useful for apps containing personal or private information.
Share Only Specific Contacts with Apps: With iOS 18, Apple introduced improvements to Contacts permission, allowing users to control which contacts are shared with apps. Instead of giving apps access to your entire contacts list, you can select only the contacts you wish to share, ensuring that your private information remains protected.
Lock Safari Private Browsing Windows: Safari’s Private Browsing mode now includes an added layer of protection by locking the windows by default. When using Private Browsing, Safari won’t remember the pages you visit, your search history, or AutoFill information. You can unlock your Private Browsing windows with FaceID, TouchID, or your passcode, offering an extra layer of privacy when you revisit the tabs.
Link Tracking Protection: Apple’s Link Tracking Protection helps eliminate unwanted tracking when you click on links shared through Messages, Mail, or while browsing in Safari’s Private Browsing mode. This feature removes additional tracking parameters from URLs, ensuring that your online activities aren’t being tracked unnecessarily.
Safety Check: Safety Check is a crucial feature for anyone who feels their personal safety is at risk. It allows you to quickly stop sharing your information with specific individuals or apps. Additionally, you can use it to restrict Messages and FaceTime to your device, change your passcode, and review what information you’re sharing, offering peace of mind in uncertain situations.
App Privacy Report: The App Privacy Report feature offers transparency into how apps access your data. When enabled, it shows how often apps access sensitive information like your location, camera, and microphone. By reviewing this report, you can better understand what apps are doing with your data and take action if necessary.
Hide My Email: Available with an iCloud+ subscription, Hide My Email allows you to create random email addresses for use with apps, websites, and services, keeping your personal email private. Whether you’re signing up for a newsletter, making a purchase, or creating a new account, this feature ensures that your real email address isn’t exposed.
Approximate Location: Apple lets you control whether apps can access your exact location or just an approximate area. By selecting approximate location, apps can still function — such as finding nearby restaurants or weather forecasts — but without sharing your precise coordinates. This is a simple way to limit the amount of personal location data you share.
Recording Indicators - Stay Informed: Apple provides a recording indicator to keep you informed when an app is using your device’s microphone or camera. An orange dot will appear when the microphone is in use, and a green dot will show up when the camera (or both the camera and microphone) is being used. This ensures you’re aware of any app accessing sensitive features of your device.
iCloud Private Relay: iCloud Private Relay, a feature for iCloud+ users, ensures that your browsing activity in Safari is protected. This service hides your IP address and browsing history from websites, even from Apple itself. It’s a useful way to ensure that your web activity remains private, preventing third parties from tracking you online.
By enabling these 10 privacy and security features, you can take control of your data and ensure that your personal information is kept secure on your Apple devices. From managing app permissions to private browsing, Apple provides a wide range of tools to enhance your privacy.
By using these features, you can protect your data in a world where online privacy is increasingly at risk. Taking the time to enable these settings will give you greater peace of mind and help you stay secure in your digital life.
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