Use “Sign in with Apple” for new apps and services, not your personal email address.
The Bodyguard for Your Digital Identity
When you sign up for a new service with your real email, it’s like giving your personal phone number to a stranger you just met. You hope they won’t misuse it, but you never know. “Sign in with Apple” is like hiring a personal bodyguard for that interaction. The bodyguard gives the stranger a temporary, random email address that forwards to you. The stranger gets to communicate, but they never learn your real identity. If they start sending you junk mail, you can just fire the bodyguard, and your personal number remains safe and private.
Stop giving apps access to your entire photo library. Do select specific photos to share instead.
The Photo Album vs. The Single Picture
When an app asks for access to your photos, granting full permission is like handing a stranger your entire family photo album, letting them flip through every single memory you have. It’s a huge invasion of privacy. A better way is to choose the “Select Photos” option. This is like carefully choosing the one specific photograph they asked to see, handing it to them, and then putting the rest of your album safely away. The app gets what it needs, and your private memories remain private.
Stop letting apps track you across other websites and apps. Do tap “Ask App Not to Track” instead.
The Salesman Who Follows You Through the Mall
Imagine you’re in a mall. You visit a shoe store, and when you leave, the salesman follows you into every other store you visit, taking notes on what you look at and reporting back to his headquarters. That’s what app tracking is. When your iPhone asks if you want to allow tracking, tapping “Ask App Not to Track” is like turning to that salesman at the door and saying, “Thank you, but you are not allowed to follow me.” It politely but firmly tells the app to stay in its own store.
The #1 secret for a more private browsing experience is iCloud Private Relay, not just a standard VPN.
The Two-Car System for Your Internet Journey
When you browse the web, it’s like your car driving to a destination. A VPN is like putting your car inside a big, sealed truck; no one can see who you are or where you’re going, but the truck driver knows both. iCloud Private Relay is a cleverer, two-part system. It’s like your journey is split between two separate couriers. The first knows who you are but not your final destination. The second knows the destination but not who you are. No single party ever knows both, providing a unique and powerful layer of privacy.
I’m just going to say it: Apple’s commitment to on-device processing for sensitive tasks is a major privacy advantage over its competitors.
The Butler Who Works Inside Your House
Imagine you want your personal letters sorted. Other companies might ask you to send all your mail to their corporate headquarters, where their employees will open, read, and organize it for you. It’s efficient, but not private. Apple’s approach is like having a trustworthy personal butler who performs all those tasks right on your kitchen table, inside your locked house. Sensitive data like your biometric information and photo analysis is processed on your device. Your secrets never have to leave your home to be understood.
The reason you’re getting so much spam is because you’re not using “Hide My Email” for online sign-ups.
The Infinite Supply of Disposable Mailboxes
Giving your real email address to every website is like having only one mailbox for everything, including your junk mail. “Hide My Email” is like having an infinite supply of disposable, single-use mailboxes. When a website asks for your email, you can instantly create a brand new, random address. All the mail gets forwarded to your real inbox, but the website never knows your true address. If they start sending you spam, you can simply toss that one disposable mailbox in the incinerator, and your primary inbox remains clean.
If you’re still using a simple passcode, you’re losing security that a strong alphanumeric passcode provides.
The Diary Lock vs. The Bank Vault Combination
Using a simple 4 or 6-digit passcode is like securing your life’s secrets with a tiny, flimsy lock from a childhood diary. It might stop a casual glance, but it’s easily broken by anyone with a little determination. Upgrading to a strong alphanumeric passcode—one with letters, numbers, and symbols—is like replacing that diary lock with the thick, steel door and complex combination of a bank vault. It turns your device from an easy target into a fortress that is practically impossible to brute force.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you don’t need to worry about security on Apple devices; staying vigilant is still important.
The Safe Neighborhood That Still Needs Locked Doors
Using an Apple device is like living in a very safe, well-patrolled neighborhood. The risk of random, automated crime is much lower. However, this can create a dangerous sense of complacency. Even in the safest neighborhood in the world, you should still lock your front door at night and not give your keys to a friendly stranger who calls you on the phone. The platform is secure, but you are still the gatekeeper of your own home. Vigilance is a habit that protects you everywhere.
I wish I knew about the App Privacy Report to see how often apps are accessing my data.
The Security Logbook for Your Digital House
You have many guests (apps) in your digital house, and you’ve given them keys to certain rooms (your camera, microphone, location). But what are they doing when you’re not looking? The App Privacy Report is like a detailed security logbook left by your front door. It shows you a complete, time-stamped list of every single time each guest has accessed one of your private rooms. It’s a powerful tool that brings transparency to the background, letting you see exactly who is accessing your data and how often.
99% of people make this one mistake with their Apple ID: not enabling two-factor authentication.
The Master Key That Requires a Secret Handshake
Your password is the master key to your entire digital kingdom. Just having a key is not enough. Enabling two-factor authentication is like adding a rule that the master key will only work if you also provide a secret, time-sensitive handshake (a six-digit code) that is only sent to your most trusted guards (your devices). A thief could steal your key, but when they get to the castle gate, they won’t be able to provide the secret handshake. It’s the single most important defense for your kingdom.
This one small habit of reviewing your app permissions regularly will significantly improve your privacy.
The Janitor Who Checks All the Keys
When you install a new app, you might give it a key to a specific room, like your contacts or your location. Over time, your digital key rack gets crowded. The small habit of periodically going into your privacy settings and reviewing which apps have which keys is like being a diligent janitor for your own house. You might find that a game you no longer play still has a key to your microphone. Taking that key back is simple digital hygiene that keeps your house secure and private.
Use Safari’s Privacy Report to see which trackers are being blocked, not just assuming you’re protected.
The Bug Zapper with a Counter
Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention is like a powerful bug zapper for the internet, automatically blocking the invisible “trackers” that try to follow you from site to site. But how do you know it’s working? The Privacy Report is the little counter on the bottom of that bug zapper. With a single click on your Safari toolbar, it will show you a detailed list of every single bug it has zapped on the current page and over the last week. It’s satisfying proof that your private browsing session is, in fact, private.
Stop sharing your exact location with every app. Do share your approximate location instead.
The Zip Code vs. Your Street Address
When a weather app asks for your location, it doesn’t need to know which chair you’re sitting in. It just needs to know your general area. Sharing your precise location with every app is like giving everyone your exact street address. The “Approximate Location” feature is like giving them just your zip code instead. It allows the app to function perfectly—it can still tell you the weather in your city—but without giving away the highly sensitive information of where your house is.
Stop letting your friends use your unlocked phone. Do use Guided Access to restrict them to a single app instead.
The Guest Room with a Locked Door
Handing your unlocked phone to a friend to show them a funny video is an act of trust. But it’s like letting a guest into your house and then leaving them unattended to wander through your bedroom and read your mail. Guided Access is the solution. It’s like putting your friend in a beautiful guest room (the one app you want them to see) and then quietly locking the door. They can enjoy everything inside that one room, but they are prevented from leaving it and exploring the rest of your private, digital home.
The #1 hack for securing your iMessages is enabling end-to-end encryption, which is on by default.
The Secret Code You and Your Friend Invented
Sending a regular text message (SMS) is like sending a postcard; the mail carrier and anyone else along the way can read it. iMessage (the blue bubbles) uses end-to-end encryption by default. This is like you and your friend have invented a secret, unbreakable code. You write your message, lock it in a box, and only your friend has the unique key to unlock and read it. Not even Apple, who acts as the mail service, has a copy of the key. Your conversations are for your eyes only.
I’m just going to say it: The Secure Enclave is the hardware foundation of Apple’s security, and it’s a significant advantage.
The Bank Vault Built Into the Foundation of Your House
Imagine your house is your phone. The Secure Enclave is like a small, impenetrable titanium bank vault that was built into the concrete foundation of the house before the rest was even constructed. It’s a separate, walled-off city. This is where your house’s most important keys—the ones that protect your fingerprint data and your passcodes—are stored. It has its own security guard and is isolated from the rest of the house. This hardware-based security is a profound advantage, making your most sensitive data incredibly difficult to steal.
The reason you’re getting targeted ads is because you haven’t limited ad tracking in your privacy settings.
The Shopper Who Wears a Disguise
When you use apps and browse the web, you are assigned a unique “advertising identifier,” which is like a digital name tag that you wear as you walk through the mall. All the different stores can see this name tag and share notes about your shopping habits. In your privacy settings, the “Limit Ad Tracking” feature is like taking off that name tag and putting on a generic, gray sweatshirt and a baseball cap. You can still shop, but it’s much harder for the stores to recognize you and follow you around with personalized ads.
If you’re still using a debit card with Apple Pay, you’re losing the fraud protection that a credit card provides.
Paying with a Briefcase of Cash vs. a Protected Check
Using your debit card is like paying for everything with a briefcase of cash. If someone steals it, the money is just gone. A credit card is more like a check; if it’s used fraudulently, you can call the bank and cancel the payment. Apple Pay is incredibly secure, but it’s still connected to the account you choose. By linking a credit card instead of a debit card, you are adding the powerful, bank-provided fraud protection on top of Apple’s technical security, giving you the best of both worlds.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that Face ID and Touch ID data is stored in the cloud; it’s securely stored on your device’s Secure Enclave.
The Key to Your House, Stored in a Safe Inside Your House
Many people worry that their fingerprint or a 3D map of their face is being uploaded to a server somewhere. This is completely false. Think of your biometric data as the master key to your house. Apple’s system stores that key in the Secure Enclave, which is like a tiny, unbreakable safe that is physically built into the foundation of your house (your phone). The key never leaves the premises. It’s used to verify you at the front door, but it is never sent to the cloud.
I wish I knew about the ability to lock my private browsing tabs in Safari with Face ID or Touch ID.
The Secret Library That Now Has a Locked Door
Safari’s private browsing mode is like a secret room in your library where you can read books without them appearing on your checkout history. However, if you left your phone on the table, anyone could walk into that secret room. A recent update is like putting a high-tech lock on the door of that room. Now, when you leave your private tabs and come back later, the door is locked. You need to use your face or your fingerprint to get back in, ensuring your private research stays truly private.
99% of users make this one mistake with their lock screen: allowing access to notifications, Control Center, and their wallet when locked.
The Locked Front Door with an Open Mail Slot
Your lock screen is your digital front door. But allowing access to notifications and Control Center is like having a giant mail slot in that door. A thief can’t get in, but they can peek inside and see your private messages (notifications), they can turn off your internet connection (Control Center), and they can even access your credit cards (Wallet). By going into your settings, you can seal that mail slot, ensuring that when your front door is locked, it is completely and securely sealed from the outside world.
This one small action of enabling “Find My” will allow you to remotely wipe your device if it’s stolen.
The Self-Destruct Button for Your Lost Diary
Losing your phone is bad. But the thought of a stranger having access to your personal data is far worse. Enabling the Find My service is like equipping your digital diary with a remote self-destruct button. If your device is stolen and you know you can’t get it back, you can log in from any other device and send the command to completely erase all of your personal data. It turns a potential privacy disaster into a simple, manageable loss of hardware.
Use encrypted and locked notes for sensitive information, not just a standard note.
A Diary vs. a Safe Deposit Box
A standard note in the Notes app is like a page in a diary left open on your desk. It’s convenient, but not secure. A locked note is like taking that sensitive page, putting it in a reinforced metal box, and locking it with a unique key that only you know. The contents are encrypted, meaning they are scrambled into an unreadable code. It’s the perfect place to store things like copies of your personal documents or private thoughts, turning a simple app into a secure digital vault.
Stop using public Wi-Fi without protection. Do use iCloud Private Relay or a trusted VPN instead.
Shouting in a Crowded Cafe vs. Whispering Through a Private Tube
Connecting to the free Wi-Fi at a coffee shop is like sitting in the middle of a crowded, noisy room and shouting your private conversations and credit card numbers out loud. Anyone in the room who is listening (a hacker) can hear everything. Using a service like iCloud Private Relay is like deploying a secure, soundproof tube that runs from your seat directly to the person you’re talking to. You can still enjoy the ambiance of the cafe, but all your conversations are now completely private and secure.
Stop granting apps access to your contacts. Do share specific contacts instead if the app supports it.
Handing Over Your Entire Rolodex vs. a Single Business Card
When an app asks for access to your contacts, it’s asking for the key to your entire digital Rolodex, with the names and numbers of all your friends, family, and colleagues. For many apps, this is a massive overreach. Some modern apps, however, allow you to be more discerning. It’s the difference between handing over your entire address book and simply picking out the one single business card the app actually needs to do its job. Always be the gatekeeper of your friends’ and family’s private information.
The #1 secret for a more secure home is using HomeKit Secure Video, which analyzes video on your devices, not in the cloud.
Your Personal Security Guard vs. The Corporate Monitoring Service
With most smart cameras, the video from your living room is sent to the company’s servers in the cloud to be analyzed for motion. This is like having a corporate monitoring service watch your home. HomeKit Secure Video is like having your own personal, trustworthy security guard (your HomePod or Apple TV) who lives inside your house. The video is analyzed locally, on your own turf. Only if something important is detected is the clip encrypted and sent to your private iCloud storage. Your private moments are analyzed in private.
I’m just going to say it: Apple’s stance on not creating backdoors for governments is a crucial part of their commitment to user privacy.
The Locksmith Who Refuses to Keep a Master Key
Imagine you hire a locksmith to install a new, un-pickable lock on your front door. Then, the police ask the locksmith for a secret master key that can open your door, just in case. Apple’s stance is that of a principled locksmith who refuses to build that master key in the first place. They believe that a key that can be used for good by one person can also be used for ill by another. By not creating a backdoor, they ensure that the lock you have on your digital life is one that only you can open.
The reason your browsing is being tracked is because you’re not using Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention.
The Butler Who Wipes Your Footprints
When you browse the web, you leave little digital footprints (cookies) on the floor of every site you visit. Trackers are like little spies who follow these footprints from room to room to build a profile on you. Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention is like a diligent butler who follows you around and discreetly wipes away your footprints after you’ve left each room. This makes it incredibly difficult for those spies to follow your trail, allowing you to move through the web with much greater privacy.
If you’re still using SMS for two-factor authentication, you’re losing security compared to app-based or hardware key methods.
The Postcard Key vs. The Armored Car Key
Two-factor authentication is about getting a second, temporary key to unlock your account. Getting that key via SMS is like having it sent to you on a postcard. It’s easy for a determined thief to intercept your mail or even trick the post office into redirecting it. Using an app-based code is like having the key delivered by a secure courier. Using a physical hardware key is the ultimate: it’s like having the key delivered inside an armored car that only you can open. It’s a much more secure delivery method.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need to be a security expert to be safe; Apple’s defaults are strong, and their settings are easy to understand.
The House Built with Security in Mind
Some tech products are like a pile of lumber, and you have to be an expert carpenter to build a secure house. Apple’s approach is like buying a house that was designed from the ground up by a world-class security architect. The locks are strong by default, the windows are reinforced, and the alarm system is already installed and turned on. While you can customize it further, you don’t need to be an expert to live in a very safe and secure home from day one.
I wish I knew about the orange and green dots in the status bar that indicate when an app is using my microphone or camera.
The “On Air” Light for Your Pocket
In a professional recording studio, there’s always a red “On Air” light that turns on outside the door whenever a microphone is live. The orange and green dots on your iPhone are the exact same thing for your digital life. If you see an orange dot, it means an app is actively using your microphone. A green dot means the camera is on. It’s a simple, brilliant, and un-fakeable indicator that provides total transparency, letting you know for certain when your device is listening or watching.
99% of people make this one mistake when they receive a suspicious email: clicking a link instead of reporting it as junk.
Inviting the Vampire In vs. Slamming the Door
A suspicious phishing email is like a vampire knocking at your door. It might look friendly, but it has malicious intent. Clicking the link in the email is the digital equivalent of saying, “Yes, please come in!” and inviting the vampire into your house. The correct action is to immediately hit the “Report Junk” button. This is like slamming the door in the vampire’s face and also alerting the neighborhood watch, which helps protect everyone else from the same threat.
This one small habit of keeping your devices updated with the latest software will protect you from the latest security threats.
The Free Lock Upgrade from the Manufacturer
Imagine the company that made the lock on your front door discovers a new type of pick that thieves are using. In response, they offer a free, upgraded lock cylinder to every single customer. A software update is exactly that. Hackers are always discovering new vulnerabilities. Updates are Apple’s way of sending you a brand new, stronger lock to protect you from those new threats. The small habit of installing updates promptly is the easiest and most important way to keep your digital house secure.
Use a complex and unique password for your Apple ID, not a password you use for other accounts.
The One Key to Rule Them All
Your Apple ID password is not just another password. It is the master key to your entire digital castle. It protects your photos, your messages, your backups, and more. Using a simple password, or one that you’ve used on another website that might get breached, is like making the key to your castle out of cheap metal and leaving copies of it all over town. This one key must be incredibly strong, complex, and absolutely unique. It is the most important lock you have.
Stop letting apps access your microphone and camera all the time. Do review and limit their permissions in settings.
The Key That Works 24/7
When you give an app permission to use your camera, it’s like giving it a key to your bedroom. Some apps need that key to function. But you should be the one to decide if they get a key that works only when you’re actively using the app, or a master key that lets them enter your bedroom whenever they want, even in the middle of the night. Always review your permissions and choose the “While Using the App” option whenever possible.
Stop giving out your real phone number. Do consider using a secondary number for non-essential services.
The Burner Phone for Your Digital Life
Your personal phone number has become a key to your identity. Giving it out to every online store or social media site is a huge privacy risk. A better approach is to get a secondary, digital phone number. This is like having a “burner phone” for your digital life. You can give this number out for all your non-essential sign-ups. It keeps your real, private number safe and protected, reserved only for the people and services you truly trust.
The #1 hack for a more private App Store experience is reading the “Privacy Nutrition Labels” before downloading an app.
Reading the Ingredients Before You Eat
When you buy food at the grocery store, you can look at the nutrition label to see what’s inside. Apple has created the exact same thing for apps. Before you download any app, you can scroll down to its “Privacy Nutrition Label.” This is a simple, easy-to-read summary of exactly what data the app collects and whether that data is linked to you. It’s like reading the ingredients before you put something in your body, allowing you to make an informed choice about your digital diet.
I’m just going to say it: The privacy features in the Apple ecosystem are a compelling reason to choose it over competitors.
Buying a House in a Gated Community
When you choose a tech ecosystem, you’re not just buying a gadget; you’re choosing a neighborhood to live in. Some neighborhoods have a very relaxed approach to security. The Apple ecosystem is like choosing to live in a well-designed, high-security gated community. Privacy isn’t just a feature; it’s a core part of the architectural design. From the on-device processing to the encrypted messages, you are choosing to live in a place where the foundational rules are built to protect you.
The reason you’re vulnerable to phishing attacks is because you’re not being skeptical of unsolicited messages and emails.
The Trojan Horse at Your Castle Gate
Your device can have the strongest walls and the highest towers in the world, but none of that matters if you are tricked into lowering the drawbridge yourself. A phishing email is a Trojan horse. It’s a malicious actor disguised as something you trust, like your bank or a delivery service. The reason these attacks work is not because of a technical failure, but because of a human one. The ultimate security feature is your own skepticism. Always question unsolicited requests for your information.
If you’re still letting apps access your precise location, you’re giving away more data than necessary for most of them.
The Bullseye vs. The General Area
Many apps need to know your location to be useful. But there’s a huge difference between “precise” and “approximate.” Allowing precise location is like putting a live GPS tracker on you that follows you to the exact chair you’re sitting in. For most apps, like a local news app, this is overkill. Choosing “approximate” location is like telling them you are somewhere within a several-square-mile circle. It allows them to give you relevant information without you having to broadcast a bullseye of your every move.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that private browsing makes you anonymous; it only clears your local history.
The Self-Wiping Whiteboard in a Glass Room
Using private browsing mode is like working on a magical whiteboard. The moment you close the window, the whiteboard instantly and completely erases itself. It leaves no trace of what you were doing on that specific device. However, you were still doing your work inside a room with glass walls. Your internet service provider and the websites you visited can still see that you were there. It’s a tool for local privacy, not for true online anonymity.
I wish I knew about Safety Check to quickly review and reset who I’m sharing information with.
The Emergency Evacuation Plan for Your Digital Life
Over time, we can end up sharing a lot of our digital life—our location, our photos, our passwords—with others. In certain situations, especially those involving domestic abuse, it can be critical to quickly sever those ties. Safety Check is the emergency evacuation plan for your digital life. With a few taps, it gives you a clear and simple way to see exactly who you’re sharing with and to immediately reset all access, like an emergency master switch that helps you regain control and safety.
99% of users make this one mistake with their passwords: storing them in an insecure note instead of using iCloud Keychain.
The Key Hidden Under the Doormat vs. Inside a Bank Vault
Writing your passwords down in a simple, unlocked note is the digital equivalent of hiding the key to your house under the doormat. Any thief who knows where to look can find it instantly. Using a secure password manager like iCloud Keychain is like taking that key, driving it to the most secure bank in the country, and storing it in a private, encrypted vault that only you can open. It is the fundamental difference between casual carelessness and true digital security.
This one small action of enabling “Stolen Device Protection” will add a critical layer of security if your iPhone is stolen and your passcode is known.
The Bank Vault with a Biometric Time Lock
Imagine a thief not only steals your bank card but also stands over your shoulder and learns your PIN. With that, they could empty your account. “Stolen Device Protection” is like a new, high-tech rule at your bank. Even if the thief has your card and your PIN, if they try to do something really sensitive, like changing the account password, the bank vault will engage a one-hour time delay and will only open after that hour if it can also verify your fingerprint. It’s a powerful defense against the scariest of scenarios.
Use Lockdown Mode if you believe you might be targeted by sophisticated spyware, not for everyday use.
Turning Your House into a Windowless Bunker
For most of us, standard home security is perfectly adequate. Lockdown Mode is not standard. It is the digital equivalent of sealing all your doors and windows with concrete and turning your comfortable home into a military-grade bunker. It provides an extreme level of security, but at a significant cost to everyday functionality. It’s a critical tool for journalists, activists, or diplomats who might be targeted by nation-state spyware, but it’s not a switch that the average person should flip on.
Stop letting your web browser save your credit card information. Do use the more secure Apple Pay for online purchases instead.
Leaving a Photocopy of Your Card vs. Using a One-Time Code
Allowing a web browser to save your credit card details is like leaving a photocopy of your credit card with every single online store you visit. If any one of those stores gets breached, your real card number is exposed. Apple Pay is different. It acts as a middleman. For every transaction, it creates a unique, one-time-use digital card number. It’s like giving the store a self-destructing token instead of your real card. Even if it’s intercepted, it’s useless for any other purchase.
Stop ignoring software update notifications. Do install them promptly to patch security vulnerabilities.
The Safety Recall for Your Car’s Brakes
When a car manufacturer discovers a flaw in their braking system, they issue a safety recall. A software update notification is the exact same thing for your digital life. It’s Apple telling you that a security vulnerability has been found and that this update contains the fix. Ignoring that notification is the equivalent of hearing that your brakes are faulty and deciding to just keep driving anyway. Promptly installing updates is one of the most important things you can do to stay safe.
The #1 secret for a more secure Mac is enabling FileVault to encrypt your hard drive.
Locking the House vs. Locking Every Drawer Inside
Password-protecting your Mac is like locking the front door to your house. It keeps most people out. But if a skilled thief manages to get inside, they can go through all your stuff. Enabling FileVault is like taking the extra step of locking every single book, every filing cabinet, and every drawer inside your house with a powerful, unbreakable key. Even if a thief bypasses the front door, all your data is just scrambled, unreadable gibberish without the master password. It’s the ultimate defense for your data.
I’m just going to say it: You should be wary of any app that asks for permissions it doesn’t clearly need.
The Plumber Who Asks for the Keys to Your Bedroom
When you hire a plumber to fix your sink, you give them access to your kitchen. If that plumber then asks for the keys to your bedroom and your filing cabinet, you should become immediately suspicious. It’s the same with apps. A photo editing app needs access to your photos. But if that same app also asks for access to your contacts, your microphone, and your location, you have to ask yourself why. Always be skeptical of any permission request that doesn’t make immediate and obvious sense.
The reason you’re not as secure as you could be is because you’re reusing passwords across multiple websites.
The One Key That Opens Every Door in Town
Imagine if you used the exact same physical key for your house, your car, your office, and your safety deposit box. It might be convenient, but it’s a security nightmare. If a thief steals that one key, your entire life is compromised. Reusing passwords online is the exact same thing. When one minor website you use gets breached and your password is leaked, hackers will then use that same key to try and open every single one of your more important doors, like your email and your bank account.
If you’re still using a simple 4-digit passcode, you’re making it easy for someone to guess it.
A Lock with 10,000 Combinations vs. a Million
A 4-digit passcode is a lock with only 10,000 possible combinations. A determined person (or a computer) can try them all relatively quickly. By simply switching to a 6-digit passcode, you are upgrading to a lock that has one million possible combinations. It is exponentially harder to break. It’s the difference between a simple luggage lock and a proper bank safe. That small change from four to six digits makes a massive difference in the security of your device.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you can’t be hacked if you use Apple products; no system is 100% impenetrable.
The Unsinkable Ship That Still Carries Lifeboats
Apple products are like a modern, incredibly well-built ship, designed with the best safety and security features in the world. They are far less likely to sink than many other ships on the sea. However, no one should ever call a ship “unsinkable.” A clever enough adversary or an unforeseen circumstance could still cause a breach. That’s why even the safest ships still have lifeboats. The platform is incredibly secure, but a healthy dose of caution is always a wise companion on any journey.
I wish I knew about the ability to generate a recovery key for my Apple ID for an extra layer of security.
The Physical Master Key to Your Digital Kingdom
Two-factor authentication is incredibly secure, but what if you lose all your devices and can’t receive the code? A recovery key is the ultimate failsafe. It’s like a physical, un-guessable master key to your entire digital kingdom that you print out and store in a real-world safe. In a catastrophic scenario where you’ve lost everything, this 28-character key is the one thing that can prove your identity and grant you access to your account again. It is the final and most powerful layer of personal security.
99% of people make this one mistake when connecting to a new Wi-Fi network: not using the “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature.
Wearing a Different Disguise in Every Coffee Shop
Normally, your phone has a unique, permanent serial number for its Wi-Fi hardware. Connecting to different networks is like visiting different coffee shops every day. The owners could compare notes and track your movements. The “Private Wi-Fi Address” feature is like putting on a new, random disguise every single time you enter a different shop. For each new network, your iPhone creates a different, temporary serial number. This makes it incredibly difficult for network operators to track your location and habits over time.
This one small habit of being mindful of what you share online will do more for your privacy than any setting.
The Words You Speak vs. The Strength of the Walls
You can live in a fortress with the strongest walls and the most secure locks in the world. But if you stand on the balcony and shout all of your secrets to the crowd below, the strength of the walls is irrelevant. Technology can provide powerful tools to protect your privacy, but the ultimate gatekeeper is you. The small habit of pausing and thinking, “Do I really want this information to be public?” before you post will always be the most powerful privacy feature you have.
Use encrypted backups for your iPhone in Finder or iTunes, not unencrypted backups.
A Diary vs. a Diary Written in a Secret Code
When you back up your iPhone to your computer, you are creating a complete copy of your digital life. An unencrypted backup is like a diary, written in plain English. If someone gets access to your computer, they can read it. An encrypted backup is like a diary that has been meticulously transcribed into a secret, unbreakable code that only you know the key to. Even if someone steals the diary, it will be nothing but meaningless gibberish to them.
Stop leaving your devices unattended and unlocked in public places. Do get in the habit of locking them every time you walk away.
Leaving Your Front Door Wide Open
It doesn’t matter if your house is a fortress made of steel with a dozen locks on the door. If you walk away to get a coffee and leave that door wide open, none of the other security matters. Your iPhone locks automatically after a minute, but a lot can happen in that 60 seconds. Getting into the simple, reflexive habit of pressing the side button to lock your device every single time you put it down or walk away is the most fundamental practice of good physical security.
Stop granting apps access to your Bluetooth. Do question why they need it and revoke access if it’s not necessary.
Letting an App Know Who Else is in the Room
When an app asks for Bluetooth access, it’s often not to connect to your headphones. It’s a clever way for the app to know where you are and who else is nearby. It can scan for other Bluetooth devices and beacons in stores to build a profile on you. It’s like an app asking for permission to see the guest list for every room you walk into. Unless the app has a clear and obvious need for it, like controlling a smart device, you should question why it needs this social and location data.
The #1 hack for a more private Mail experience is enabling “Mail Privacy Protection” to hide your IP address and location from senders.
The Mail That’s Read Through a One-Way Mirror
When you open an email, it can contain invisible pixels that report back to the sender exactly when and where you opened their message. It’s like a letter that spies on you. Enabling “Mail Privacy Protection” is like taking that letter and reading it in a special room with a one-way mirror. Apple opens the email through a series of anonymous servers, which hides your true location and IP address. The sender can see that the mail was opened, but they have no idea by whom, where, or when.
I’m just going to say it: The physical security of your devices is just as important as the digital security.
The World’s Best Safe, Left on the Sidewalk
You can have the most complex password, the most secure encryption, and the most advanced software in the world. But all of that is like having the world’s most impenetrable safe. If you leave that safe sitting on the sidewalk in the middle of a busy city, you’re still at risk. Being aware of your surroundings, not leaving your phone on a restaurant table, and generally treating your device like the valuable object it is, is the other, equally important half of the security equation.
The reason you’re getting spam calls is because you’re not using the “Silence Unknown Callers” feature.
The Doorman Who Only Admits People on the Guest List
Answering your phone every time it rings is like having a front door with no doorman, letting any stranger off the street walk in and start a conversation. The “Silence Unknown Callers” feature is like hiring a strict but effective doorman for your phone. If a call comes from a number that isn’t in your contacts, your doorman doesn’t let it ring. He silently diverts it to a logbook (your voicemail and recent calls list) for you to review at your leisure. The peace and quiet is transformative.
If you’re still clicking “allow” on every permission request without reading it, you’re giving away your data.
The Salesman with a Clipboard at Your Door
Every time a new app asks for a permission, it’s like a door-to-door salesman with a clipboard asking for access to your house. “Can I have access to your photo albums? Your microphone? Your address book?” Just blindly clicking “Allow” on every request is like signing the clipboard without reading it and giving that stranger a complete set of keys to your entire home. Each request is a negotiation. You should always read what they’re asking for and only grant the access that is absolutely necessary.
The biggest lie you’ve been told about iMessage is that it’s the same as SMS; its end-to-end encryption makes it far more secure.
The Pneumatic Tube vs. The Postcard
It’s easy to think that the blue bubbles and the green bubbles are just different colors. But the difference in their security is monumental. A green bubble (SMS) is a postcard. It’s an old technology where the message travels in plain text across the carrier’s network, and many people can read it. A blue bubble (iMessage) is a sealed, titanium capsule sent through a private, pneumatic tube. The message is written in an unbreakable code, and only the person with the key at the other end can open it.
I wish I knew about the “Erase Data” feature that wipes your iPhone after 10 failed passcode attempts.
The Safe That Incinerates Its Contents
A thief has stolen your phone and is trying to guess your passcode. They have a lot of time. The “Erase Data” feature is an optional, high-security setting that is like rigging your safe to a self-destruct mechanism. If someone tries to guess the combination and fails 10 times in a row, the safe will automatically incinerate all of its contents. It’s a powerful last line of defense that ensures that even if your device is stolen, your data will never fall into the wrong hands.
99% of users make this one mistake with their security questions: using easily guessable answers.
The Spare Key Hidden in an Obvious Place
Security questions are often used as a backup way to get into your account. But using a question like, “What city were you born in?” is like hiding your spare key under a flowerpot that has a sign on it that says “Spare Key.” So much of that information is publicly available online. A better approach is to treat the answers like a second password and use a completely random string of characters. The question is just the prompt; the answer should be something no one could ever guess.
This one small action of setting up a trusted phone number and device for two-factor authentication will save you from being locked out of your account.
The Spare Key You Give to Your Most Trusted Neighbor
Two-factor authentication is critical for security, but what if you lose your only trusted device? A trusted phone number is the spare key that you give to your most trusted neighbor. It’s a backup phone number—maybe your partner’s or a landline—that you can use to receive a verification code if you ever lose access to all of your own devices. It is the crucial failsafe that ensures that your high-security system doesn’t accidentally lock you out of your own house forever.
Use a password manager that integrates with the Apple ecosystem, not just relying on your memory.
The Photographic Memory vs. The Secure Library
Trying to remember a unique, strong password for every single website is like trying to memorize a hundred different epic poems. Your brain is not designed for that, and you will eventually fail. A password manager like iCloud Keychain is a secure, encrypted library. You only need to remember one master password—the one to get into the library. Inside, the librarian can instantly tell you the full text of any poem you need, perfectly and every time.
Stop sharing your personal information with websites that don’t use HTTPS. Do look for the lock icon in the address bar.
The Armored Car vs. Shouting Across a Crowded Room
When you enter your password or credit card on a website, you are sending information across the internet. If you see a little lock icon in the address bar (HTTPS), it means your information is being put inside a sealed, armored car for the journey. It’s encrypted and secure. If you do not see that lock icon, it means you are standing in a crowded room and shouting your sensitive information for anyone to hear. The lock icon is a simple, non-negotiable sign of basic security.
Stop ignoring the “Password Compromised” warnings in iCloud Keychain. Do change those passwords immediately.
The Police Report on Your Stolen House Key
Imagine the police called you and said, “We found a list of stolen house keys from a recent burglary, and a perfect copy of your key is on that list.” You would change your locks immediately. The “Password Compromised” warning in your iPhone’s settings is the exact same thing. It means that a website you use has been breached, and your password is now public knowledge. Ignoring that warning is choosing to continue using a key that you know the criminals already have a copy of.
The #1 secret for protecting your kids online is using the parental controls built into Screen Time.
The Training Wheels for the Internet
The internet is a vast and powerful tool, but it can also be a dangerous place for a child. Screen Time is not about spying; it’s about providing a safe and structured environment for them to learn. It’s the digital equivalent of putting training wheels on their first bicycle. You can set time limits, filter inappropriate content, and approve their contacts. It allows them to explore and learn, but with guardrails in place that protect them from the biggest dangers until they’re ready to ride on their own.
I’m just going to say it: You are the most important part of your own security; be smart about what you click and share.
The Captain of the Ship
You can be on the most secure, most advanced, most unsinkable ship in the world. But if the captain decides to ignore the iceberg warnings and steer directly into danger, the strength of the ship is irrelevant. The technology and the software are your ship, providing an incredible vessel for your journey. But you are the captain. Your decisions—what you click, who you trust, what you share—will always be the most critical factor in whether you reach your destination safely.
The reason your location data is being leaked is because you’re not clearing the location information from photos before you share them.
The Invisible GPS Tag on the Back of Your Photos
Every photo you take with your iPhone has a secret, invisible tag on the back that contains the exact GPS coordinates of where it was taken. When you post that photo online, you are often posting that location tag along with it. This can reveal sensitive information, like the location of your home or your child’s school. When you share a photo, you can go into the “Options” menu and turn off “Location.” This is like peeling that invisible GPS tag off the back of the print before you hand it to a stranger.
If you’re still using an old, unsupported device, you’re not receiving critical security updates.
The House the Locksmith No Longer Services
Imagine living in a house where the locksmith who made all your locks has gone out of business. When new types of lockpicks are invented, no one will ever come to upgrade your locks. Using an old Apple device that no longer receives software updates is the exact same situation. Hackers are constantly finding new vulnerabilities, and Apple is constantly patching them. If your device is too old to get those patches, you are living with old, outdated locks that the entire world knows how to pick.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you need antivirus software on your iPhone; iOS is designed to be secure without it.
The Building with No Hallways
Traditional antivirus software is like a security guard that patrols the hallways of a building, looking for suspicious characters. But the iOS operating system is designed like a building with no hallways. Every app is given its own completely sealed, windowless room. The apps cannot leave their rooms, and they cannot peek into other rooms. There is nowhere for a traditional virus to go, and nowhere for a security guard to patrol. The architecture itself is the security.
I wish I knew about the ability to use security keys for my Apple ID for the highest level of security.
The Physical Key for Your Digital Vault
Two-factor authentication using a code sent to your device is great. But a highly sophisticated hacker could potentially intercept that code. A physical security key is the ultimate defense. It’s like a real, tangible key for your digital life. To log in, you must not only have your password, but you must also physically insert or tap this key on your device. It is impossible for a hacker in another country to “phish” or steal a physical object that is in your pocket. It’s the gold standard of account security.
99% of people make this one mistake when they get a new phone: not properly wiping their old one before getting rid of it.
Selling Your Old Filing Cabinet Without Shredding the Documents
Getting rid of your old phone without properly erasing it is like selling your old, personal filing cabinet at a yard sale without bothering to take out or shred any of the documents inside. Your entire life—your messages, your photos, your financial information—is in that cabinet. The simple act of going to “Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Erase All Content and Settings” is the digital equivalent of a high-security shredder. It ensures that you are selling an empty cabinet, not giving away your life’s secrets.
This one small habit of thinking before you click will protect you from the vast majority of online threats.
Looking Through the Peephole Before You Open the Door
Your digital life is a house with a locked front door. The vast majority of security breaches happen not because the thief kicks the door down, but because the owner is tricked into opening it for them. A suspicious link in an email is a stranger at your door. The simple, reflexive habit of “thinking before you click” is the equivalent of looking through the peephole. Taking that one second to ask, “Do I know this person? Am I expecting them?” will protect you from almost every common online threat.
Use encrypted DNS on your Apple devices for an extra layer of privacy.
The Phonebook That’s Written in a Secret Code
When you type a website address, your device has to ask a “Domain Name System” (DNS) server for directions, like looking up a name in a public phonebook. Normally, this request is unencrypted, meaning your internet provider can see every single site you’re looking up. Encrypted DNS is like using a magical phonebook that’s written in a secret code. You can look up the directions, but your internet provider can’t read your request, adding another valuable layer of privacy to your browsing.
Stop letting apps access your HomeKit data if they don’t need it. Do review these permissions in the Home app.
The Key to Your Smart Home Controls
When you install an app that works with your smart home, you are giving it a key to the control panel of your house. This could allow it to turn your lights on and off or see the status of your locks. It’s wise to be a discerning landlord. In the Home app settings, you can review a list of every single app that has a key to your smart home. If you find an app that you no longer use or trust, you can instantly revoke its key, ensuring your home remains secure.
Stop using your birthday or “123456” as your passcode. Do choose something random and unpredictable.
The Combination Lock Set to “1-2-3-4”
Using a common, easily guessable passcode is like buying a brand new, high-security safe for your valuables and then setting the combination to “1-2-3-4.” You’ve invested in a powerful security tool but have completely undermined it with a lazy choice. The strength of your passcode is the foundation of your device’s security. It should be a random string of numbers that has no personal meaning to you. It’s a small thing to remember, but it makes a world of difference.
The #1 hack for a more secure browsing experience on your Mac is using separate user accounts for different purposes.
The Separate, Locked Offices for Your Different Jobs
Imagine you’re a person who has a day job, a personal life, and maybe a risky hobby. Doing all of that from one desk means your work papers can get mixed with your personal letters and your hobby equipment. On a Mac, creating separate user accounts is like having three separate, locked offices for your different lives. You can have a “Work” user with just your work apps, and a “Personal” user for everything else. This compartmentalization is a powerful security tool that keeps any potential trouble isolated to one room.
I’m just going to say it: The “walled garden” approach of the App Store, while sometimes criticized, significantly improves security by vetting apps.
The City with a Single, Guarded Gate
Some platforms are like a wide-open plain where anyone can build a shop and sell their wares. The App Store is a “walled garden,” which is more like a fortified city with high walls and a single, heavily guarded gate. Every merchant (app developer) and all of their goods (their app’s code) are thoroughly inspected at this gate before they are allowed inside. While this might be more restrictive, it drastically reduces the amount of crime, malware, and scams within the city walls, creating a much safer marketplace for everyone.
The reason your device is vulnerable is because you’ve jailbroken it, which bypasses many of Apple’s built-in security protections.
Dynamiting a Hole in the Wall of Your Fortress
Your iPhone is designed to be a secure fortress with high walls and no back doors. Jailbreaking is the act of taking a stick of dynamite and blasting a giant, uncontrolled hole in the side of that fortress wall. It might give you the freedom to bring in some unauthorized furniture and redecorate, but it also completely bypasses the guarded gate and leaves you wide open to invasion by malware and viruses that would have otherwise been stopped at the door.
If you’re still using a public computer to log into your iCloud account, you’re risking your credentials being stolen.
Announcing Your Bank PIN in a Public Square
Logging into your most important account on a public library or hotel computer is the digital equivalent of standing on a chair in the middle of a crowded public square and shouting the PIN to your bank account. You have no idea who is listening or what malicious software (keyloggers) might be installed on that computer, secretly recording every single key you press. Your most sensitive accounts should only ever be accessed from devices that you personally own and trust.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that you have no control over your data; Apple provides many tools to manage your privacy.
The Dashboard of Your Own Power Plant
It can often feel like our personal data is just leaking out into the world and that we have no control. That’s like thinking you have no control over the electricity in your house. The Privacy section in your iPhone’s settings is the master dashboard for your own personal power plant. It has a switch and a dial for every single connection. You have the ultimate authority to see who is using your power, how much they’re using, and to cut them off at any moment. You are the one in control.
I wish I knew about the importance of having a strong and unique password for my Wi-Fi network at home.
The Gate to Your Entire Property
Your phone’s passcode is the lock on your front door. But your home’s Wi-Fi password is the lock on the main gate at the edge of your entire property. If a thief can get through that gate, they are now inside your private space and can try to attack all of your devices. A weak, easily guessable Wi-Fi password is like leaving that main gate unlocked. It must be strong and secure, because it is the first line of defense for every single connected device inside your home.
99% of users make this one mistake with AirDrop: accepting files from strangers in public places.
Accepting an Unmarked Package from a Stranger on the Subway
AirDrop is an incredibly convenient way to share files. But receiving a file is like a stranger walking up to you on the subway and trying to hand you a sealed, unmarked box. Would you take it? Of course not. It could contain anything. Yet people will blindly accept photos and files from people they don’t know, which could contain malicious content. Unless you are actively expecting a file from someone you know and trust, you should always decline unexpected AirDrop requests.
This one small action of enabling notifications for the Find My app will alert you if you leave a device behind.
The Invisible Leash on Your Backpack
We’ve all had that moment of panic: you get halfway to your destination and suddenly realize you’ve left your iPad or your laptop at the coffee shop. The “Notify When Left Behind” feature in the Find My app is like attaching a magical, invisible leash to all of your important belongings. If you walk too far away from one of your devices, that leash will gently “tug” on your iPhone or Apple Watch, giving you a notification that you’ve left something behind before you get too far away.
Use the “Report Junk” feature in Messages to help Apple identify and block spammers.
Alerting the Neighborhood Watch to a Prowler
When you get a spam message from an unknown number, just deleting it is like seeing a prowler in your neighborhood and quietly closing your curtains. When you use the “Report Junk” feature, it’s like picking up the phone and alerting the neighborhood watch. You are providing Apple with the information they need to identify and block that spammer, not just for you, but for the entire community. It’s a small, selfless action that helps make the entire messaging ecosystem safer for everyone.
Stop letting websites send you notifications in Safari. Do be selective about which sites you grant this permission to.
Giving a Salesperson a Key to Your Front Door
When a website asks if it can send you notifications, it’s asking for permission to reach into your digital life and tap you on the shoulder whenever it wants. It’s like a salesperson asking for a key to your front door so they can come in and announce a sale. For a few, trusted sources—like a news organization—this might be useful. But for most, it’s just an invitation for constant, distracting advertisements. Be incredibly selective about who you give this powerful key to.
Stop ignoring the privacy implications of the smart devices you bring into your home. Do research their privacy policies and use HomeKit for better security.
Installing New Eyes and Ears in Your Living Room
Every smart speaker, camera, or lightbulb you bring into your home is the equivalent of installing a new set of ears or eyes in your most private spaces. Before you do, it’s critical to ask, “Who is listening? Who is watching? And what are they doing with the data?” Researching a company’s privacy policy is essential. Using a framework like Apple’s HomeKit is like ensuring all those new eyes and ears are wired into your own private, secure security system, not a mysterious corporate headquarters in another country.
The #1 secret for a more private search experience is using a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo in Safari.
The Librarian with Amnesia
Using a standard search engine is like asking a librarian for information, and that librarian then keeps a detailed, permanent file on you and every single question you’ve ever asked. Using a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo is like asking a librarian who has perfect knowledge but also permanent amnesia. They can get you the exact information you need, but the moment you turn away, they completely forget who you are and what you asked for. They don’t build a profile, and they don’t follow you with ads.
I’m just going to say it: Your privacy is worth paying for, whether it’s through choosing products from a company that values it or paying for privacy-enhancing services.
The Free Restaurant with Hidden Cameras
There is a saying in technology: if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. It’s like two restaurants. One is completely free, but you later find out it’s full of hidden cameras and microphones, and they sell the recordings of your dinner conversations to advertisers. The other restaurant charges a fair price for the meal but leaves you in complete and total privacy. Sometimes, paying for a product or service is the only way to ensure that you are the customer, not the thing being sold.
The reason you’re seeing ads for something you just talked about is likely due to the tracking of your online activity, not your microphone listening to you.
The Detective Following Your Footprints
The feeling of talking about a product and then seeing an ad for it is spooky. It feels like your phone is listening. While it’s technically possible, the more likely reason is that you are leaving a trail of thousands of digital footprints every day: your searches, your location, the articles you read, what your friends like. Advertisers have become incredibly skilled detectives. They aren’t bugging your conversations; they are just experts at following your tracks and predicting what you’re going to be interested in next.
If you’re still logging into your bank on a public Wi-Fi network, you’re taking a huge risk.
Discussing Your Finances in a Crowded Town Square
A public Wi-Fi network is an open, shared space. Logging into your bank account on that network is the digital equivalent of walking into the middle of a crowded town square, pulling out a megaphone, and announcing your account number and your password for everyone to hear. You have no idea who else is in that square and who might be listening with malicious intent. Your most sensitive transactions should only ever be conducted on a trusted, private network, like your home Wi-aFi or your cellular connection.
The biggest lie you’ve been told is that security is inconvenient; Apple has made it incredibly easy with features like Face ID and Touch ID.
The Doorman Who is Also a Fortress
In the past, high security meant memorizing long passwords and dealing with clumsy hardware. It was a trade-off: you could have security, or you could have convenience. The beauty of modern features like Face ID is that they are both. It’s like having a doorman at your house who is also an impenetrable fortress wall. He recognizes you instantly and lets you in with zero effort, but he is an immovable, biometric barrier to anyone else. It’s the ultimate combination of seamless convenience and top-tier security.
I wish I knew about the ability to see which apps have access to my Health data and to revoke that access at any time.
The Different Specialists Looking at Your Medical Chart
Your Health app is your private, master medical chart. When you grant an app access to this data, it’s like allowing a specialist to look at a specific section of your chart. A workout app might need to see your heart rate, but it doesn’t need to see your blood type. In the Health app’s settings, you can act as the head of the hospital. You can see a list of every single specialist (app) and exactly which parts of your chart they can view. And at any moment, you can revoke their access.
99% of people make this one mistake when creating a new account: not using the “Sign in with Apple” option when it’s available.
The Free, Anonymous Mask at the Masquerade Ball
When you go to a party (a new website), you can either show the bouncer your real driver’s license, or you can use the anonymous mask they are offering you at the door. “Sign in with Apple” is that free, secure, anonymous mask. It lets you into the party without you having to reveal your true identity (your real email). It’s the simplest and most powerful privacy choice you can make when it’s offered, yet so many people still reflexively reach for their wallet and show their real ID.
This one small habit of being cautious about the information you share in iMessage group chats with people you don’t know will protect your privacy.
The Conversation in a Room Full of Strangers
An iMessage conversation with your family is a private, trusted space. But a group chat for a neighborhood event or a child’s sports team is like being in a room full of people you don’t really know. You have no idea who else is in that room or who they might share your information with. The small habit of treating these large, semi-public group chats with a bit more caution—avoiding sharing your home address or sensitive personal details—is an important part of good digital citizenship.
Use a passcode on your Apple Watch, not just relying on it being on your wrist.
The Key to Your House and Your Wallet
Your Apple Watch is more than just a watch. It can unlock your Mac. It can pay for your groceries. It is a key to your digital and financial life. Leaving it without a passcode is like leaving that master key sitting on a table. If it’s stolen off your wrist while unlocked, the thief has your key. Setting up a simple passcode ensures that the moment the watch leaves your wrist, it becomes a locked, useless brick until your secret code is entered. It’s a critical layer of security for a very powerful device.