Apple Introduces Innovative Security Feature to Foil Thieves

Apple has introduced a new iPhone security update designed to prevent unauthorized access to your device. This extra layer of protection aims to safeguard the extensive personal data stored on iPhones by adding additional security measures to thwart potential criminals.

Currently, iPhone users have the ability to access extremely sensitive information and alter important settings on their phones using just a passcode - a four or six digit number string typically used for various actions including unlocking the device, viewing credit card details, and accessing stored passwords.

However, with the introduction of the Stolen Device Protection feature, users are now safeguarded even if their passcode is compromised by a thief. Instead of relying solely on the passcode, users with this new feature will be prompted to input biometric data such as Face ID (facial scan) or Touch ID (fingerprint) to access their data or make changes.

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A screenshot of Apple's new Stolen Device Protection feature, currently in beta testing.

For more sensitive tasks such as changing an Apple ID password, adding or removing face or fingerprint scanning, turning off Find My iPhone, or disabling the stolen device protection, users will be prompted to provide biometric data and wait through a one-hour security delay before re-entering biometric data to finalize the changes.

An Apple spokesperson told CNN that the company is constantly working to create stronger protections for users and their data as new threats emerge. They explained that the Stolen Device Protection feature adds an additional layer of security in cases where a thief has witnessed the user entering the passcode. Additionally, this extra security is activated when a user is in an unfamiliar location, with the device automatically recognizing and storing familiar locations like work or home.

Though currently only available to beta testers, the feature will be available for all iPhone users to opt into as part of an upcoming software update.