Apple’s iOS 18 Privacy & Security Boost: 4 Game-Changing Features & How to Use Them

Apple has long been a champion of user privacy and security, and iOS 18 takes this commitment to a new level. This latest update introduces a suite of features designed to give iPhone users greater control over their data and enhance their digital safety. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore four standout privacy and security features in iOS 18, explain how they work, and show you how to use them to bolster your iPhone’s defenses.

Key Features & How to Use Them:

1. Lockdown Mode: The Ultimate Shield

Lockdown Mode is an extreme, optional protection for users who may be personally targeted by sophisticated digital threats, such as those from private spyware companies.

How it works: Lockdown Mode significantly reduces the attack surface of your iPhone by:

• Blocking most attachment types in Messages
• Disabling link previews
• Blocking incoming FaceTime calls from unknown numbers
• Blocking complex web technologies
• Disabling wired connections when your iPhone is locked
• Blocking configuration profiles and MDM enrollment

How to use it:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Lockdown Mode.
2. Tap on “Turn On Lockdown Mode.”
3. Carefully read the information and tap “Turn On & Restart” to enable Lockdown Mode.

My experience: I’ve personally never needed to use Lockdown Mode, but I’m reassured knowing it’s there as a last line of defense if I ever find myself targeted by a sophisticated cyberattack.

2. Sensitive Content Warning: Shielding Your Eyes

This feature helps protect you from unexpectedly encountering sensitive images in AirDrop, Messages, FaceTime, and third-party apps.

How it works: Sensitive Content Warning uses on-device machine learning to detect nudity in images. If a sensitive image is detected, it will be blurred and you’ll have the option to view it or not.

How to use it:

1. This feature is turned on by default in iOS 18.
2. You can adjust the settings in Settings > Privacy & Security > Sensitive Content Warning.

My experience: As a parent, I appreciate this feature for protecting my children from accidentally seeing inappropriate content. It’s a subtle yet powerful tool for enhancing digital well-being.

3. Communication Safety: Protecting Children

Building on the existing Communication Safety feature, iOS 18 now extends protection to adult accounts and includes video content in addition to images.

How it works: If an adult account receives or sends an image or video containing nudity, the content will be blurred and a warning will be displayed. The user will then have the option to view the content or not.

How to use it:

1. This feature is turned on by default for child accounts in iOS 18.
2. Adult accounts can enable it in Settings > Screen Time > Communication Safety.

My experience: While this feature is primarily aimed at protecting children, I believe it’s beneficial for adults as well. We all deserve to be protected from unwanted explicit content.

4. Passkeys: The Password Killer

Passkeys offer a more secure and convenient alternative to traditional passwords.

How they work: Passkeys are unique digital keys tied to your device and protected by biometric authentication (like Face ID or Touch ID). They’re resistant to phishing and impossible to guess or reuse, making them a significant upgrade for account security.

How to use them:

1. When creating a new account or updating an existing one, look for the option to use a passkey.
2. Follow the prompts to create and save your passkey.
3. When logging in, you’ll be prompted to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID.

My experience: I’ve started using passkeys wherever possible and find them to be incredibly convenient and secure. It’s refreshing not having to remember complex passwords anymore.

Beyond the Headlines: Other Notable Privacy & Security Enhancements in iOS 18

• Enhanced Location Privacy: iOS 18 offers more granular control over location sharing with apps, allowing you to choose between sharing your precise location or a more general area.
• App Privacy Report: This report provides insights into how apps are using your data, including which apps have accessed your location, camera, microphone, and contacts in the past week.
• Private Browsing: Safari’s Private Browsing mode now uses advanced tracking and fingerprinting protection to prevent websites from identifying or tracking you.

iOS 18 delivers a powerful suite of privacy and security features that give users more control over their data and enhance their digital safety. From the extreme protection of Lockdown Mode to the subtle safeguards of Sensitive Content Warning, Apple continues to demonstrate its commitment to user privacy. By understanding and utilizing these features, you can make your iPhone a fortress of personal data protection.