Android users have a tonne of options, but is there anything an iOS user can do to make their phones more private. It was not my choice to get an iPhone but it’s what was provided to me so I’m rolling with it.
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You have many options:
First things first, disable biometrics and turn on lockdown.
Turn on automatic updates and stay up to date. The 26.3 update had significant security fixes in it!
Install your privacy respecting VPNs app and mdm shim. Use their dns (especially if it has an adblocker (mulvad)).
Figure out how to keep a backup code on paper and use that to turn on advanced data protection (adp). This will allow you to have e2ee with no backdoor on your iCloud stuff.
Go to settings > privacy and security and do a security checkup. It’ll walk you through which apps have access to what and when.
Don’t install extra shit. There’s good sandboxing in iOS but every app is another tracking vector.
Turn off location services unless you need it.
Turn off siri, also in Face ID and passcode scroll to the bottom and turn off access control center when locked (or just remove the airplane mode control). That keeps someone from turning on airplane mode and defeating stolen device protection when they snatch your phone.
Settings > privacy > all the way at the bottom: wired devices allow when unlocked
There’s probably more I’ll remember later. It’s easier if I know what you’re trying to get privacy from. Big difference between 4th amendment stuff and the advertisers you unknowingly invite into your home.
Additional info on lockdown mode
Lockdown Mode is an optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats. Most people are never targeted by attacks of this nature.
If you’ve identified in your threat model that your phone could fall into the wrong hands, and someone might try to hack into it, using lockdown could save the day. Very least, the hackers are not going to have an easy day.
Don’t put anything personal in it. That’s what I sued to do using my iPhone and what I still do now, using an Android.
Is this for work? Then only use it for work. Don’t out anything private on it. No exceptions.
You can change whatever settings you like but ultimately it’s closed software so you can’t trust it. Do what you need to practice privacy with the intent of getting a Graphene phone when possible for you
Use the six digit pin. Pick one that’s not widely used, here’s a chart for reference
Turn off notification previews. This will make notifications no longer show the content of the thing they’re notifying you of.
If you’re concerned, turn off push notifications altogether. They’re a problem.
Treat sms (texting with a green bubble) as if it’s public. It is. There is no clear indication that the lawful intercept backdoor hack has been reversed and its nature makes that hard to imagine.
Treat rcs as sms. It was never designed to be encrypted, only to add functionality to sms. Encrypted rcs relies on transmission between two users of rcs services that support encryption. Currently the other encrypted rcs supporting users you’ll see are Samsung and google.
iMessage, the blue bubble texts, should be fine especially if you and your cohort have adp turned on. If it worries you then add them to the below.
Use signal or something to communicate privately with green bubble texters or everybody.
Your phone, no matter the brand or service provider, is a tracking device. It needs to be in order to effectively use the cell network. The phone must have a unique identifier, must figure out the best signal from different available towers and must be able to authenticate and identify itself as part of a valid users subscription to a service. When you are uncomfortable with this, turn the phone off and walk away from it.
Practice the 5x button iOS emergency press. In addition to giving you quick access to emergency calls, it will disconnect devices, requires pin entry to unlock the phone even if you have biometrics on and gives you the option to turn your phone off.
Turning your phone off means that someone attempting to get into it will need to get past the much higher bar of “before first unlock” before they can access it. Get comfortable turning your shit off.
You should not log in an apple account then you can take full control of your iPhone but apps won’t be installed without an iCloud account. iCloud mail? Forget it. You still can check it on safari. Still iPhone is the best for privacy. Otherwise, a pixel phone on graphene OS is very good.
