In today's digital landscape, the security of personal information stored on smartphones has become a paramount concern. Recognising this, Apple has rolled out a new security feature called Stolen Device Protection, aimed at fortifying the defences of iPhones against theft or unauthorised access, particularly when they are outside familiar environments.Apple's Stolen Device Protection feature acts as an additional layer of security, triggered when an iPhone is detected in unfamiliar locations, such as when it's away from home or work.
This feature requires Face ID or Touch ID authentication for crucial actions like accessing passwords stored in iCloud Keychain, activating Lost Mode settings, erasing the device remotely, or making purchases in Safari.To further deter potential thieves, Apple has implemented a one-hour security delay on certain actions, such as changing an Apple ID password.
This delay provides users with a crucial window of opportunity to mark their device as lost and secure their Apple account, enhancing overall protection against unauthorised access.1.
Ensure their device is running iOS version 17.3.4 or later by navigating to Settings > General > Software Update and downloading/installing the update.2.
Open the Settings app and go to Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).3. Enter the device passcode when prompted.4.