How to protect your iPhone and digital assets from theft: two important steps

Smartphones have long since ceased to be merely a means of communication. Today, they store passwords, banking apps, two-factor authentication codes, and access to email and digital assets. Therefore, losing or having your device stolen can lead not only to the loss of the phone itself, but also to the compromise of personal data and financial assets.

Cybersecurity experts note that one of the most common threats is when a malicious actor discovers the device’s unlock password and then gains physical access to the smartphone. In such cases, saved passwords, financial services and other confidential data are at risk.
To reduce such risks, iPhone owners are advised to pay attention to two security features.
Stolen Device Protection

The Stolen Device Protection feature was developed by Apple to prevent unauthorised access to critical device settings.
When enabled, certain actions require mandatory verification via Face ID or Touch ID.

These actions include:

• viewing passwords stored in the Keychain;
• changing Apple ID settings;
• disabling the ‘Find My iPhone’ feature;
• erasing device data.

For some operations related to your Apple ID, an additional one-hour security delay applies, after which biometric verification is required again. This gives the device owner extra time to detect suspicious activity and take protective measures.
Before enabling this feature, ensure that Apple ID two-factor authentication, a device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, the ‘Find My’ feature and ‘Significant Locations’ are enabled on the device. iOS 17.3 or later is also required.

You can enable this protection via the menu: ‘Settings’ → ‘Face ID & Passcode’ → ‘Stolen Device Protection’.
Additional account protection using Passkey

In addition to protecting the device itself, experts recommend using modern authentication methods for important online services.

One such solution is Passkey technology, which replaces traditional passwords with biometric authentication. To log in to an account, the user must verify their identity using Face ID or Touch ID, which significantly reduces the risk of unauthorised access even if the device’s password is compromised.

Many digital platforms, including cryptocurrency services, already support the use of Passkey as an additional layer of protection for user accounts.

Security starts with simple steps

Modern threats are increasingly linked not to complex hacking attacks, but to simple device theft and password compromise. This is precisely why experts recommend regularly checking your smartphone’s security settings and using additional protection methods for important accounts.

Enabling the ‘Stolen Device Protection’ feature and using Passkey can significantly improve security and reduce the risk of losing access to personal data and digital assets.