Losing your iPhone is bad.
Losing your entire digital life, from photos to finances, is traumatic.
Unfortunately, the latter is all too common.
The humble iPhone passcode.
Once a thief identifies those six-digits on your Lock Screen, its game over.
That makes it a prime target for bad actors in cities around the world.
Your passcode unlocks deeply personal parts of your iPhone.
Your phone will only ask for your passcode again to begin resetting your iCloud password.
From there, its smooth sailing for the thieves.
You lost your iPhone, but now you cant use your Mac or iPad, either.
And, because they changed your password, you cant fix the problem on your end anymore.
People arent only losing devices and data in these robberies, theyre losing real money.
Scary stuff, and as it stands, Apple has no real answer to offer.
But there are a couple steps you’ve got the option to take to protect yourself right now.
Use an alphanumeric password on your iPhone
The first thing to do is improve your passcode.
Switch to a longer, alphanumeric passwordmeaning one with letters, numbers, and special characters.
you’re free to do this fromSettings>Face ID &Passcode > Change Passcode > Passcode Options.
Dont letanyonesee your iPhones password
Treat this new passcode like your ATM PIN.
Remember: This password is the key to your entire iPhone.
If possible, however, try not to use a password manager for financial apps.
They could simply autofill the password to break in, or get into the enter keychain using your passcode.
Of course, password managers are far easier than remembering your passwords for individual accounts.
Even if they have your bank password, theyll be stuck.
[The Wall Street Journal]
