There is a certain default iPhone setting you need to change immediately to keep hackers out of your personal information.
Fair warning to Apple fans, there are some settings that may need urgently changing in your iPhone to keep your data safe.
Experts are alerting users to a potential cybersecurity risk that could impact millions of devices.
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Otherwise, you may find yourself vulnerable to hackers who will try to install malware onto your iPhone.
Default iPhone setting you may need to change
First up is the ‘auto-join’ feature on your WiFi settings, which will automatically connect your device to public hotspots in places like restaurants, bars and cafes.
While it might seem like a reasonable feature to have enabled, this will also let in hackers and it could give them access to your passwords, photos and bank accounts.
Hackers will also set up their own WiFi networks in the hopes that you will try to connect to it.
Once connected, they can install malware onto the phone so that they can access your data, even after you’ve disconnected.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has warned iPhone users not to connect to public WiFi at all.
So, how do you disable the ‘auto-join’ WiFi function?
First, head to your settings app and click ‘WiFi’, followed by ‘auto-join hotspot’.
From there, you’ll be given three options to pick from: Never, Ask to Join or Automatic.
Experts recommend that you choose either Ask to Join or Automatic.
For an extra layer of security, turn off your WiFi before leaving the house to avoid any risk of someone trying to connect to your phone.
There’s also an option to ‘forget this network’, if you’re finished using a hotspot that you know you’re not going to need again.
If you’re still worried, the NSA also advises that people with an iPhone reboot their phone once a week to spot hackers from manipulating open URLs.
Through this, they can run a code which will install malware onto your device.
If you turn your smartphone off and on again, this will reset all of your open web tabs and apps and will also log you out of your bank accounts.
This means that if there is anyone trying to hack into your device, they will be locked off the minute the phone is switched off and won’t be able to get back in when you reboot it.