The iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 updates include privacy and security changes that make your devices more secure than ever, Apple restricts access to photos and calendar events and also limits how websites track you online.
Private Browsing Add-ons for Safari
In Safari, private browser windows are now locked and require second authentication to open and access. If you give your phone to someone and try to open your private Safari browser, access will be denied without Face ID / Touch ID or passcode.
The Private tab closes automatically.
Removing the following link
Opening a link in a private browser automatically deletes all information added to the link, and anonymous trackers are blocked so companies can’t track your browsing across multiple sites.
URLs can also be removed when browsing in non-privacy browsers if the feature is enabled. Here’s how to remove URL tracking from all browser windows:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Safari.
- Click on Advanced.
- Click on Technology Tracking Tools and Fingerprint Security.
- Enable “All Browsers.”
Enabling this will ensure that all URLs opened in Safari will remove the tracking information placed at the end of the URL.
Shared Passwords
With iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma, you can share passwords and secure keys with friends and family using shared passwords. Using this feature, passwords for social media accounts, utilities, bills, and more can be shared with multiple people.
Anyone can access, add, and change shared passwords, and existing settings by going to the Passwords section of the Settings app and selecting “Get Started” under the heading “Family Passwords”.
Passcode Resets
If you change the passcode on your iPhone and then accidentally forget the new passcode you chose, you now have a grace period of 72 hours to fix it without being locked out of your device.
Apple allows you to use your old passcode within 72 hours of setting up a new one, which is handy if you’re someone who forgets the passcode you just created.
If you enter the wrong passcode after editing, you can click “Forgot Passcode?” option under the display using the “Try Passcode Reset” option. Holding it allows you to use your old passcode to create a new passcode.
To protect yourself if someone learns your passcode, there is an “Expire Previous Passcode Now” setting that you can turn on.
Photo Library Access
Apple is improving access to the Photo Library in iOS 17, and apps will have to ask for permission to access all of your photos. Apps are given limited access unless you give them permission to see the entire library, which keeps your photos private.
You can grant programs the following privileges:
- Limited Access – Apps can see only the photos you choose, and you can review your chosen photos at any time in the app or by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.
- Full Access – Apps can see all the photos and videos in your Photo Library, and your device will tell you how many photos and videos you have access to.
- None – No access to Photo Library at all.
- Add Photos Only – This app can add photos to your library, but not view them. These settings are application specific, and are not available for all applications.
If you open the Settings app and then go to the Privacy and Security section and select Photos, you can see the Photos option that all apps have access to. You can change the settings from here, and it’s best to scroll through the list to see exactly which apps can view your photos. You can also choose to remove information such as space and text, and change the image color.
Downloading a new program that wants to access the Photo Library will bring up options for limited or full access. Previously, apps only had the option to request blanket Photo Library access, which gave them the entire library, not just selected photos. There are a lot of controls that apps can see on iOS 17 screens.
Your iPhone will also periodically remind you to limit access to photos by telling you how many photos an app can see.
To access the Calendar
Apps can add an event to the Calendar app without being able to see your Calendar through “Add Events Only”.
Calendar access can be controlled by going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendars. You can give apps Full Access, select Add Events Only, or use the None option to restrict access. This section of the Settings app also lists how many calendars you have and how many accounts you’re signed into.
Apps with full Calendar can see places, invitees, stickers, and notes, according to Apple.
Passports
iOS 17 only provides a key to the Apple ID, which is the most secure form of encryption. With the pass, users can sign in to Apple ID with Face ID or Touch ID instead of their password, a feature available on icloud.com, appleid.apple.com, and other Apple websites.
Passkeys use two keys, one public and one registered to a website or app that is private, that resides on the device itself. There is no way for someone to intercept and get the passkey, so the passkey cannot be stolen.
With iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and iPadOS 17, when you sign in to Apple websites, you’ll use biometric authentication instead of your password. Passkeys will eventually be accepted by many websites, instead of passwords.
History of Home Affairs
The Home app now includes up to 30 days of activity history, so you can see who accessed door locks, garage doors, contact sensors, and alarm sensors, and when.
read more
More information on all the new features in the iOS 17 update can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.
#iOS #Privacy #Security #Updates #Coming #Apples #Update
