Apple's iPhone and iPad all run under the iOS system, which is pretty secure. But hackers and cybercriminals never ignore any chance or flaw to attach an iOS device. You are the owner of your iPhone and private data on your iPhone, so it's your job to keep them safe, although iOS provides an excellent security framework.
Here we summarize some tips to maximize the iOS security features for those concerned about the safety of sensitive information, from contact lists to photos and videos.
1. Update Software
Any software may have flaws or defects, especially in new features. Hackers are always trying to find them in iOS coding to exploit, potentially accessing user data.
As the primary security protection, Apple works hard to figure out these flaws and patch them as soon as possible. It is why you get notifications to update iOS from time to time, which is the critical way of combatting the exploits.
Therefore, you should ensure your iOS is the latest version and shouldn't miss any release, even if the minor updates. When a new iOS update is ready, you need to confirm the update before it is installed. To update to the latest version of iOS, go as follows:
Settings > General > Software Update. Here you can see that you're already running the latest version or need to install something newer.

Some iOS updates are particular to fix security flaws. For example, iOS 13.1.3 was rushed out to fix the issues and security flaws in iOS 13.0. So, for your privacy in iPhone, never miss any iOS update.
2. Password and Password Management
Password is the key to open your iPhone and get everything stored in it. You may know some hacker tools can crack simple iPhone and iPad passwords quickly. Typically, a four-digit password needs a couple of hours, and a six-digit one needs a few days.
You may think iOS can delay and lock the device to stop anyone from brute-forcing or guessing your password. Yes, Apple does its best against cracking user credentials. But hackers stand on the other side; they think such a thing should be possible. So, create a complicated password is a severe task to protect your iPhone:
- Choose a code longer than six digits. Hack an eight-digit pin needs months, and a ten-digit pin needs a decade;
- Use a code that includes numbers, letters, and symbols. It should make your iPhone a lot harder to break.
Even if your iPhone is secured by Face ID or fingerprint, it can still be unlocked with your password. So never set it as 1-2-3-4, which will cause big trouble for your privacy.
Steps to set the password:
- Open Settings
- Tap Touch/Face ID & Passcode
- Enter your Passcode
- Tap on Change Passcode
- Enter your Passcode
- Tap Passcode Options
- Enter new code and verify it
Password plays a pivotal role in keeping personal information secure in iPhone and other computers or smart devices. A password manager can make life a great deal easier, which helps you use one password to access the manager and then takes care of all the rest.
Apple offers a password manager iCloud Keychain that is integrated with both iOS and macOS. Your iPhone can use it to up security levels. If your devices aren't only from Apple, you can also choose third parties' password managers. Your iPhone can work together will mainstream ones.
3. Auto-Wipe Data
If your iPhone indeed has sensitive data, there is an option to destroy them when someone wants to crack your password. The idea is that after ten incorrect logins, the iPhone will automatically wipe all content. In case any hacker gets your iPhone, it will be useless unless he hits its password in 10 tryings.
The steps are as follows:
Settings > Touch/Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, scroll to the bottom and toggle on Erase Data.

This feature will wipe data from your iPhone after ten times of the wrong password. If you accidentally activate the feature, your data will be gone too. So if you enable the option, you should back up your iPhone's data if you sometimes need them to re-load. The iCloud is the right place to automatic backup.
4. Revoke App Permissions
If you install apps on your iPhone, it will bring up new security issues. If your app is from Apple Store, you can trust that the Store already did a security analysis. However, you should know what data (like contact and email) or resources (like camera and microphone) it will access and grant it permissions accordingly.
You can control if an app can access your data and use your resources by iOS. It means an app may be able to access your private information under your permission. Although Apple's privacy policy says that any apps found collecting personally identifiable information will be removed, we know hackers will take the chance.
So, if an app abuses your data, there is no matter with the iPhone. It's why you should revoke unused permissions per app and be very careful to handle every installed app.
Now Apple has made it harder for apps to gather personal data without your knowledge. Some new concerns are as follows:
- Choices to sharing your location: Allow continuous location access
- Location Reminder Alert with a map
- Use Bluetooth
- WiFi tracking: apps could track your location by looking for WiFi networks
- Get information stored in the notes section of contacts
If you feel that you've installed an app that you don't trust with full confidence, you can either delete it or go to
Settings > Privacy , select the permission to revoke and toggle the application off.

5. 2021 iPhone/iPad Security Software
Both the iPhone and iPad run based on iOS, which is a very safe system. However, we can still see a few security risks from time to time in some use cases. For example, public Wi-Fi is a well-known security issue for mobile users. It's why some third parties are trying to offer software or service to improve iPhone/iPad users' security situations. We list some of them to help you get the right choice to enhance your iPhone or iPad's security level.
Producer | Name | Area | Free | |
---|
McAfee, LLC.  | Mcafee Total Protection | Antivirus Password VPN Service Internet Security File Security Parental Control
| |  |
| Mcafee Mobile Security | Internet Security Privacy Security Antivirus
| |  |
| Mcafee Safe Connect VPN | VPN Service
| |  |
| Mcafee Safe Family | Parental Control
| |  |
| Mcafee Identity Theft Protection | Privacy Security
| |  |
NortonLifeLock Inc.  | Norton 360 AntiVirus | Antivirus Data Backup Internet Security Password Parental Control VPN Service
| |  |
| Norton Mobile Security | Internet Security VPN Service Antivirus
| |  |
| Norton Secure VPN | VPN Service
| |  |
| Norton Password Manager | Password
| |  |
| Norton Family | Parental Control
| |  |
BitDefender, LLC.  | Bitdefender Security | Internet Security Password VPN Service File Security Parental Control
| |  |
| Bitdefender Mobile Security | Internet Security Privacy Security
| |  |
| Bitdefender Premium VPN | VPN Service
| |  |
F-Secure Cyber Security Limited  | F-Secure Security | Internet Security Password VPN Service Parental Control
| |  |
| F-Secure Id Protection | Password Privacy Security
| |  |
Nord Inc.  | NordVPN | VPN Service Password
| |  |
| NordPass Password Manager | Password Privacy Security
| |  |
Webroot Inc.  | Webroot SecureAnywhere | Antivirus Internet Security Password Data Backup
| |  |
| Webroot WiFi Security | VPN Service
| |  |
Kaspersky Lab  | Kaspersky Anti Virus & Security | Antivirus Internet Security Password Data Backup Privacy Security Parental Control
| |  |
| Kaspersky Safe Kids | Parental Control
| |  |
TotalAV Software  | Total Security | Antivirus Internet Security VPN Service
| |  |
Avira Operations  | Avira Antivirus Pro | Antivirus Internet Security VPN Service
| |  |
K7 Computing Pvt Ltd.  | K7 Antivirus & Secuirty | Antivirus Internet Security Parental Control
| |  |
Avast Software  | Avast Antivirus & Security | Antivirus Internet Security
| |  |
Sophos Ltd.  | Sophos Home | Antivirus Internet Security
| |  |
Trend Micro Inc.  | Trend Security | Internet Security Password VPN Service Parental Control
| |  |
Aura  | Hotspot Shield | VPN Service Password Privacy Security
| |  |
CyberGhost  | CyberGhost VPN | VPN Service
| |  |
Express VPN International Ltd  | ExpressVPN | VPN Service
| |  |
Surfshark Ltd.  | Surfshark VPN | VPN Service
| |  |
Dashlane Inc.  | Dashlane Password Manager | Password Privacy Security
| |  |
AgileBits, Inc.  | 1Password Password Manager | Password File Security VPN Service
| |  |
Keeper Security, Inc.  | Keeper Password Manager | Password File Security Privacy Security
| |  |
LogMeIn,Inc.  | LastPass Password Manager | Password File Security Privacy Security
| |  |
Bitwarden, Inc.  | Bitwarden Password Manager | Password File Security
| |  |
Siber Systems, Inc.  | RoboForm Password Manager | Password File Security
| |  |
Pervasive Group Inc.  | MMGuardia Parental Control | Parental Control
| |  |
Qustodio LLC.  | Qustodio Family Premium | Parental Control
| |  |
Content Watch Holdings, Inc.  | Net Nanny Family Pass | Parental Control
| |  |
Mobicip LLC.  | Mobicip Family | Parental Control
| |  |
Google LLC  | Google Drive | Data Backup
| |  |
Microsoft Corporation  | Microsoft OneDrive | Data Backup
| |  |
Apple Inc.  | Apple iCloud Drive | Data Backup
| |  |
IDrive Inc.  | iDrive | Data Backup
| |  |
Dropbox, Inc.  | Dropbox Individual | Data Backup
| |  |
Acronis International GmbH  | Acronis True Image | Data Backup
| |  |
Western Digital Corporation  | My Cloud Home | Data Backup
| |  |
Aiseesoft Studio  | FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery | File Security
| |  |
6. Free iPhone/iPad Security Software
Comparing with your privacy and personal data, the payment to protect them isn't too much. If you are serious about them, free or not free shouldn't be a big issue. However, if you aren't familiar with third parties' iPhone/iPad security software or service, the free is an easy option to understand and evaluate how these tools or services work for your iPhone or iPad.
Here we list some popular ones to help you to learn common iPhone/iPad security software or services.
6.1 Free Internet Security Suite for iPhone/iPad
Feature | Free | Premium | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | Full list |
Safe web | | | Full list |
Web Protection | | | Full list |
Remote Control | | | Full list |
Anti identity theft | | | Full list |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | Full list |
Avast Antivirus & Security
(2)
Feature | Free Antivirus | Premlum Security | Premlum Security | Device |
---|
Antivirus | | | | Full list |
Scan Wi-Fi | | | | Full list |
Ransomware security | | | | Full list |
Secure Shopping | | | | Full list |
File Shredder | | | | Full list |
Safe web | | | | Full list |
Scan email | | | | Full list |
Firewall to internet | | | | Full list |
Mcafee Mobile Security
(3)
Feature | Starter | Standrd | Plus | Device |
---|
Security Scan | | | | iOS Android |
Privacy check | | | | Android |
Protect device from thieves | | | | iOS Android |
Backup contacts | | | | iOS |
Media vault | | | | iOS |
Backup media | | | | Android |
Safe web | | | | iOS Android |
Wi-Fi VPN | | | | iOS Android |
6.2 Free Privacy VPN for iPhone/iPad
Mcafee Safe Connect VPN
(1)
Feature | Free | Monthly | Yearly | Device | Note |
---|
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | 250M per month |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | 5 licenses |
Unlimited data | | | | Full list | |
Feature | Free | Premium | Premium Family | Device | Note |
---|
Secure VPN | | | | Windows Mac iOS Android Chrome | Up to 2 Mbps,500 MB daily |
Secure VPN | | | | Full list | up to 1 Gbps,unlimited traffic |
Streaming access | | | | Full list | |
Virtual locations | | | | Full list | |
Realtime anti-phishing | | | | Full list | |
Password manager | | | | Full list | by 1Password |
Monitor privacy breach | | | | Full list | |
8.3 Free Parental Control for for iPhone/iPad
Feature | Free | Yearly | Device |
---|
Safe web browsing | | | Full list |
Limit device time | | | Full list |
Monitor user activity | | | Full list |
Search supervision | | | Full list |
Video Supervision | | | Full list |
Mobile App Supervision | | | Android |
Location Supervision | | | Android |
Remote Control | | | iOS Android |
Feature | Free | Monthly | Yearly | Device |
---|
Safe web browsing | | | | Full list |
Monitor user activity | | | | Full list |
Limit device time | | | | Full list |
Feature | Free | Premium | Device |
---|
Safe web browsing | | | Full list |
Content filter | | | Full list |
YouTube monitor | | | Full list |
Mobile App Supervision | | | Full list |
Limit device time | | | Full list |
Family Locator | | | iOS Android |
Social network monitor | | | Full list |