About the security content of iOS 16 (2023)

FAQs

What are security features of iOS? ›

This update introduces iCloud Shared Photo Library making it easy to keep your family photos up to date. This release also adds support for third party apps in Live Activities, support for Apple Fitness+ on iPhone even if you don't have an Apple Watch, and includes other features and bug fixes for your iPhone.

iPhone is designed to protect your data and your privacy. Built-in security features help prevent anyone but you from accessing the data on your iPhone and in iCloud.

Basically, if you have an iPhone 8 (2017) or newer (including the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you can download and run iOS 16. That doesn't mean every feature in the update will be available on your iPhone, though, as some features like Live Text work only with iPhones powered by an A12 Bionic chip or newer.

Best iPhone antivirus apps:

TotalAV – best antivirus for iPhone in 2022 with real-time protection. Norton 360 – secure antivirus with main functions and VPN. Avira Antivirus – great antivirus with a feature-packed free plan. Bitdefender Antivirus – extensive and feature-loaded solution.

iOS 16: Why you should wait

No iOS release is bug-free, and it's always possible that you're going to run into problems you didn't have before. That said, between the new features and security updates present in iOS 16.1, we really think most users will be much better off if they grabbed the latest version.

Recently, the tech giant rolled out its latest iOS 16.1 with live activities, iCloud Shared Photo Library, Lock Screen/Home Screen Customization, Apple Fitness+ on iPhone Without an Apple Watch, Clean Energy Charging, Emergency SOS via Satellite, bug fixes, and more.

Which Apple devices can install iOS 16? Any from the past five years: anyone with an iPhone 8 or later will be able to run iOS 16. With the iPad, iOS 16 is compatible with all Pad Pro models, iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (5th generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later).

While iOS may be considered more secure, it's not impossible for cybercriminals to hit iPhones or iPads with malicious software. Because of this, the owners of both Android and iOS devices need to be aware of possible malware and viruses, and be careful when downloading apps from third-party app stores.

Why is iOS the most secure? ›

Device manufacturers

Apple's mobile devices and their operating systems are inseparable, giving them far more control over how they work together. While iOS device features are more restricted than an Android device, the iPhone's integrated design makes security vulnerabilities far less frequent and harder to find.

“iPhones are more secure by default. Disk encryption is enabled by default, apps from the App Store go through a stricter vetting process, and Apple doesn't gather users' personal details for advertising purposes,” Bischoff says.

iOS 16 is a buggy mess, with Apple releasing a series of dedicated bug fixes that have barely scratched the surface. And now, new research has discovered that arguably the worst problem in iOS is even worse in iOS 16.

If you recently updated your iPhone to iOS 16 and have decided it's not for you, perhaps due to some incompatibility or battery issue or otherwise, you'll be excited to know you can downgrade from iOS 16 and revert back to iOS 15.

Another reason why your iPhone battery is coming up short after the iOS 16 update is the Apple Photos app. It periodically indexes your library to weed out duplicate photos and videos in the background and that process, Apple claims, can initially take days depending on the amount of media you've on your iPhone.

It's bad news if your iPhone is older than the iPhone 8—Apple has ended support for the iPhone 7 and older, so you won't be able to upgrade your iPhone software to iOS 16.

The installation procedure normally takes between 10 and 20 minutes. When you include 5 to 10 minutes for setup, the iOS 16 software upgrade procedure should take 20 to 45 minutes.

The following iPhones are compatible with iOS 16: iPhone 8. iPhone 8 Plus.

We've looked into this and will explain why in this post — and why Apple doesn't even allow antivirus apps for iOS. That said, there are still good reasons and appropriate ways to protect your iPhone.

iOS is a closed ecosystem or sandbox, preventing viruses from spreading across your device or stealing data. Jailbroken iPhones, on the other hand, are susceptible to viruses. So as long as you don't jailbreak your iPhone and update the operating system regularly, the chances of contracting a virus are low.

Is iPhone antivirus free? ›

Simply put: we're the best free antivirus for iPhones. Like TechRadar says, “If you're looking for the best iPhone antivirus app then you probably can't get better than Avast Security & Privacy.”

However, a major issue that came with iOS 16 is battery drainage, and it has been plaguing iPhone users. Scroll down to see how Apple's latest iOS 16.1 update performs in a new battery drain test.

The iOS 16.2 developer beta's issues could cripple your iPhone and make it difficult to use, disabling phone calls or text messages or making it extremely laggy. However, if you only have your main phone or tablet available, make sure to back up your iPhone on iOS 16.1 before updating to iOS 16.2.

Compared with iOS 15, iOS 16 has a big change in the style of the lock screen interface. On the new lock screen, we can change fonts and wallpaper, and even put widgets on the lock screen. Therefore, once we light up the screen, we can see the information presented on the widget.

Apple dropped an iPhone software update, iOS 16.1.1, over the weekend, addressing bug fixes and security vulnerabilities – although it doesn't add fancy new features, you should install the update now.

Check to see if your phone can run iOS 16. Apple says the update will work on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone SE, iPhone XS and XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, 12, and 13.

Updates. The first developer beta of iOS 16 was released on June 6, 2022. iOS 16 was officially released on September 12, 2022. Initial Release on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.

Apple supports the last three versions of its operating systems for bug and security updates, so if your iPhone runs iOS 13 you should be ok. So that means Apple supports the iPhone 6s or newer when it comes to software updates.

Until iOS 16 was released in September 2022, a used iPhone 6S was still able to run the most recent Apple mobile operating system: iOS 15. It is the oldest iPhone to receive the iOS 15 update (the iPhone 6 is stuck on the last version of iOS 12).

Can iPhone be hacked? ›

An iPhone can be hacked remotely through iOS vulnerabilities. However, it's more likely that it'll be hacked through malicious software or physical access, as programming-based hacking is the most difficult to carry out.

Microsoft claims Windows 11 is the most secure Windows ever.

“Mac is probably more secure on the whole because Apple is in full control of both the hardware and software, whereas Windows has to be adapted to many different brands and models,” explained Bischoff.

Your iPhone can be hacked, though it isn't very common, and iPhones are safer than Androids. To protect your iPhone, don't click on suspicious links or give out your personal information. If your iPhone has been hacked, you might need to factory reset it or get a replacement.

Apple devices have encryption features to safeguard user data and enable remote wipe in the case of device theft or loss. The secure boot chain, system security, and app security capabilities all help to ensure that only trusted code and apps run on a device.

Whether iOS is better than Android in security is now up for debate, but the consensus still gives Apple the upper hand. iOS has more consistent updates for all devices, a closed ecosystem that is harder to penetrate, and a stricter app store.

Even though Apple devices are much harder to gain access to and much harder to exploit, it can still be controlled or hacked. Both Android & iOS users must be careful of what they download (especially third-party applications) as they can be both harmed with malware or viruses.

The main reason to update to ‌iOS 16‌ for most users will be to gain a host of new features, such as Lock Screen customization and widgets, iCloud Shared Photo Library, Passkeys, Shared Tab Groups, and enhancements to Live Text, Visual Look Up, and Dictation, as well as significant updates for Messages, Mail, Home, ...

Remove and download the update again

Go to Settings > General > [Device name] Storage. Find the update in the list of apps. Tap the update, then tap Delete Update.

What kills iPhone battery health? ›

Moreover, keeping the device at full charge or completely drained can negatively impact your iPhone's battery health. For this reason, you should try to keep your device between 40% and 80% battery as much as possible to preserve your iPhone's battery health.

The two things that cause the most battery drain in your iPhone are its screen and cellular service. Obviously, you know when you're actively using your phone, but a lot of the time, your iPhone is performing tasks in the background and even lighting up your screen without you noticing.

Tips to Extend an iPhone Battery Life. Few things are more frustrating to users than having their iPhone's battery die when they need it most. The battery on an iPhone should last between 10 to 17 hours on a full charge.

Apple devices have encryption features to safeguard user data and enable remote wipe in the case of device theft or loss. The secure boot chain, system security, and app security capabilities all help to ensure that only trusted code and apps run on a device.

iOS is a closed system. Apple doesn't release its source code to app developers, and the owners of iPhones and iPads can't easily modify the code on their phones themselves. This makes it more difficult for hackers to find vulnerabilities on iOS-powered devices.

Apple Passkeys let you sign into websites and apps using your device, rather than a password, which can be leaked, lost or stolen, by authenticating with your face or fingerprint using Face ID or Touch ID.

Apple's mobile devices and their operating systems are inseparable, giving them far more control over how they work together. While iOS device features are more restricted than an Android device, the iPhone's integrated design makes security vulnerabilities far less frequent and harder to find.

Can an iPhone be hacked remotely? An iPhone can be hacked remotely through iOS vulnerabilities. However, it's more likely that it'll be hacked through malicious software or physical access, as programming-based hacking is the most difficult to carry out.

What are the 5 layers of security? ›

There are three primary areas or classifications of security controls. These include management security, operational security, and physical security controls.

Studies have found that a far higher percentage of mobile malware targets Android than iOS, the software than runs Apple's devices. That's down both to Android's huge global popularity and its open approach.