How to Secure Your Kid's iPhone

TIPS & HOW TOS / TECH PARENTING

- TERRANCE GAINES

You can do just about anything with a smartphone. So Apple has baked a number of security features into the iPhone and iOS to keep its users and their data as safe as possible when they’re interacting with the digital world.

If you’re concerned about your kids’ safety, security, and privacy, here are some security features and configurations to consider if you’ve entrusted them with an iPhone.

SET PASSCODES

Secure Your Kid’s Apple ID

The first line of defense when it comes to device security is the passcode. When you hand your of-age kid an iPhone, they will need to create an Apple ID that connects it to Apple’s services and a passcode in order to access the iPhone.

Create a strong Apple ID password with a combination of letters (upper and lowercase), numbers, and special characters. The more complex your passwords, the harder they are for hackers to crack. That could also make them harder for you to remember, though, so check reviews at PCMag.com and get a good password manager program.

An extra security step is to enable Two-Factor Authentication for your kid’s Apple ID, which requires additional credentials when accessing the account from a trusted device or via the web. This ensures that the account is protected even if somebody else has the account password.