Quick Tip: Securing your information and your privacy on your iPhone

Losing an iPhone can literally be devastating. Not just because you’ve lost an expensive, shiny toy that you have grown strangely attached to… and feel somewhat lost and insecure without it … and feel anxious without looking at it every 10 minutes or every time you have to wait in line or …

No. It’s because a stranger now has access to your contacts, appointments, emails, photos and other data including access to any social networking apps you have installed. That’s enough information to pen an unauthorized biography.

We can’t help you with the loss or theft of the iPhone itself. Hey, schnitzel happens.

What we can do is help make your iPhone more secure and protect your privacy in the case of loss. It’s a lot simpler than you think and you already have everything you need to do it, assuming you have Software version 2.0 or above.

1: Turn on the Passcode Lock
If haven’t already, tap your way to Settings > General > Passcode Lock

When you turn this option on, you’ll be asked to provide a 4 number passcode. Make it memorable, make it hard to guess. That means NOT 1234.

There is also an option to set how long the iPhone can be idle before the passcode lock goes into effect, allowing a more generous amount of time before it locks into Passcode mode. We’ve found 2 minutes for Auto-lock (the standard “slide to unlock” screen) and 15 minutes for Passcode Lock is a good balance of security and convenience.

2: Turn on the Erase Data feature
Most of you may already know about the Passcode Lock, but this often forgotten option is essential. The description says it best: “Erase all data on this iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts.”

So when that shady someone decides to keep your phone attempts to guess their way in, the iPhone goes into a reset and erases itself after 10 unsuccessful attempts.

The beauty of this system is that every time you sync the iPhone to your computer, iTunes makes a backup of all your info. So when you get your replacement (face it, you can’t go back to any other phone can you?), just sync it and you’re back in business knowing that there isn’t a duplicate out there that could come to haunt you later. Probably in the form of credit card bills.

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