Apple as we speak launched a brand new device for iPhones to assist cut back what a thief together with your cellphone and passcode can entry. The characteristic, known as Stolen Device Protection, provides additional layers of safety to your iPhone when somebody tries to entry or change delicate settings in your gadget. If somebody tries to entry passwords saved in Apple’s keychain, as an example, they received’t have the ability to except in addition they use a fingerprint or the cellphone’s face recognition to show they’re the authentic proprietor.

You needn’t look far to seek out tales of stolen phones. In London, a cellphone is stolen every six minutes. Subreddits are plagued by folks having their phones snatched by thieves. In among the most excessive circumstances, crooks also can take the passcodes—forcibly, or by peering over someone’s shoulder—after which steal a cellphone and unlock it. Social media accounts, passwords, and monetary information can all be put in danger.

Stolen Device Protection is included with iOS 17.3, the most recent iteration of Apple’s cellular working system, which was launched as we speak. The characteristic ought to be excessive in your record to allow. It higher protects your information—with out you having to do something—and has the potential to disrupt thieves. The transfer from Apple, in response to cybersecurity specialists, is a optimistic one and adds to the protections that already accompany passcodes.

The stolen iPhone safety is “likely to act as another barrier and put more pressure on thieves when targeting victims,” says Jake Moore, a worldwide cybersecurity adviser at safety agency Eset and a former police laptop crime investigator. “Selling phones will always be big business among organized crime groups, but criminals will just need to work harder on their craft now.”

When you activate Stolen Device Protection, Apple places additional limits on some settings when your iPhone isn’t at a well-known location, resembling your private home or work. If somebody unlocks your cellphone and tries to vary these settings, they’ll have to make use of Face ID or Touch ID. So if a thief has your cellphone and passcode, they received’t have the ability to change the settings except they’ve your biometric info too, which isn’t simple to clone and idiot the programs that energy them.

These additional checks will seem when somebody tries to entry passwords or passkeys you’ve saved in iCloud’s keychain, use fee strategies saved in Safari, flip off Lost Mode, erase your cellphone, use your cellphone within the setup of a brand new Apple gadget, apply for a brand new Apple Card, view your Apple Card’s digital quantity, or switch cash with Apple Cash.

There’s additionally a second layer of checks for much more delicate info. If your cellphone shouldn’t be at a well-known location, Apple can even put in place a one-hour “security delay” after utilizing your biometrics. When this one-hour delay is up, your biometrics are wanted once more to vary the settings. (Your iPhone will nonetheless be accessible throughout this hour.)

This hour delay applies to makes an attempt to vary your Apple ID password, signal out of Apple ID, or replace Apple ID account safety settings, resembling eradicating a trusted gadget. The delay can also be in place if somebody tries to take away Face ID or Touch ID accounts, change your iPhone passcode, reset your settings, disable the Find My device, and switch off Stolen Device Protection itself. If a thief has your cellphone, there’s an opportunity they’ll wish to change these settings shortly to both take over your cellphone or on-line accounts, and the delay might cut back their capability to take action. Moore says the additional hour’s delay provides a “greatly appreciated layer of security.”