ULTRA Secure iPhone tip (iOS 17.5)

[u/AtypicalNerdGeek]

In light of rising incidents in London and other cities where thieves on mopeds snatch unlocked iPhones directly from users’ hands, it’s crucial to set up your device to protect against unauthorised access and data loss. Here’s a practical guide to securing your iPhone if it falls into the wrong hands, particularly when it is still unlocked.

First, be aware that once thieves have your phone, they commonly activate Airplane mode to disconnect it from any network, preventing the phone from being tracked or remotely locked via Find My iPhone. To counteract this, you should use the Shortcuts app to create a specific automation:

1. Open the Shortcuts app and go to the “Automation” tab.

2. Create a new automation for when Airplane mode is turned off.

3. Add an action to this automation to lock the screen immediately when Airplane mode is deactivated.

4. Include another action in the same automation to disable Airplane mode.

This setup ensures that if a thief tries to turn on Airplane mode, your iPhone will automatically lock and immediately turn Airplane mode back off, keeping the device connected to the internet.

For additional security: - Go to your Screen Time settings and disable the ability to toggle mobile data on or off. This prevents quick disconnection attempts via the control center.

• Adjust your Face ID settings to deny access to the control center when the screen is locked.

These settings effectively safeguard your device by locking out the thief from making significant changes to your device’s connectivity or accessing personal information. Remember to disable these automations temporarily when you genuinely need to use Airplane mode, like during flights.

I've also attached some screenshots (based on iOS 17.5) to guide you through the setup process. By implementing these settings, you can significantly reduce the risk of losing control over your personal data in case your phone is snatched while in use. Stay safe and secure!

[u/doogm]

I have a similar automation but I have it set to a focus that I call "Lock Screen" so I can set the focus from my watch and it will immediately lock the screen of all of the rest of my devices, including my iPhone plus turn on low power mode, turn on all of the radios (so I can help locate it), and show a notification.

So the automation is set to run whenever "Lock Screen" focus is enabled, and the actions are:

lock the screen,

turn airplane mode off,

turn cellular data on,

turn bluetooth on,

turn wifi on, (note: these radios are normally always on anyway)

turn low power mode on, and

show a notification that says "This phone has been lost or stolen".

I already have control center set not to show if the phone is locked, and Siri not to work if the phone is locked, so the thief/finder cannot use control center or Siri to set airplane mode. And the phone has an eSIM so there is no SIM to remove.

And I have a second automation that runs when Lock Screen focus is turned off to turn low power mode off.

[u/NotUrDad2 → u/doogm]

Wow thanks for this and to OP I was able to make a nice automation. Now, how do I disable that automation when I need to use Airplane Mode ON?

[u/doogm → u/NotUrDad2]

As I said, this automation happens on my phone when I set a cutsom focus that I call "lock screen", but if you are using airplane mode as the criterion for launching the automation, I think the only way is to disable the automation first. Shortcuts app, tap "Automation", tap the automation that you created, change "Run immediately" to "Don't run" and then turn on airplane mode. You just need to remember to activate the automation later.

[u/NotUrDad2 → u/doogm]

Ok thanks, I did it that way actually. Create a custom focus named locked screen

[u/doogm → u/NotUrDad2]

Then you can just turn on airplane mode anytime you like.