Your Apple ID is what enables you to access various Apple services such as the App Store, Apple Music, and iCloud. And without it, there isn’t much you can do on your iPhone.
The account also contains your crucial information, such as contacts and payment details. This means it’s one of your most sensitive pieces of information and should be secured as much as possible. Failure to do that, an Apple ID security breach can easily lead to issues such as why has my account been disabled.
While Apple itself provides robust security, there are several measures you need to take to ensure your account is not compromised.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Today, Apple enforces the addition of two-factor authentication when creating an account. However, if you created your account a while back, this feature may not be enabled on your account. It is the most important security tool for your Apple ID as it adds an extra verification option when signing in. On top of requiring your password, Apple will send a 6-digit code to your trusted device before it allows usage of the Apple ID.
Besides the device, ensure that you also have a trusted mobile phone number added. This number will become the second sign-in option in case you can’t access your trusted device for whatever reason. To check if your account has two-factor authentication enabled, you can go to Settings > Apple ID > Sign-In & Security > Two-Factor Authentication. If you’d like to use your browser, proceed to appleid.apple.com/account/manage.
Don’t share your Apple ID Account
You may be tempted to share your Apple ID with a family member and let them enjoy your subscriptions. However, this also means you will give them access to your personal content and data. This is quite a huge security concern as you don’t know how the person will treat this kind of data. They can sign in to websites and maybe even share the data with others knowingly or unknowingly.
As a rule of thumb, don’t share your Apple ID or password with anybody. In case someone else helped you set up the account, change the password immediately and use a unique one. Also, confirm the trusted numbers provided on the account are all yours.
Manage Apps & Sites Signed In With Apple
Apple makes it easy to sign up on sites without having to fill out forms or provide lots of personal data. Instead, you only have to click the Sign In with Apple ID button. This will then share your email and a few other non-invasive details with the site or app. However, although Apple ensures that your sensitive data remains private, it’s good to be careful with whom you share it. Some sites ask for much more information than others, and others may seem dodgy.
After a while, review the apps and sites to which you’ve given permission to access your Apple ID. If there are some that you no longer use or look suspicious, revoke them. You can do this by going to Settings > Apple ID > Password & Security > Apps Using Apple ID or visiting appleid.apple.com. When signing in to new sites, you can also opt to change your name and provide an alias (relay) email that forwards to your Apple ID.
Beware of Phishing Scams
Phishing is a common security threat that hackers use to collect information they can then use against victims. The manoeuvres these people use can easily trick individuals into giving out their Apple ID information by clicking on links usually found in fake emails, messages, or websites.
The problem with phishing is that it mimics reputable organizations, so you can come across a site or email that looks almost like Apple’s. And if you provide your information, it gets into the hands of the attackers. Before you click on any link in your email, verify the sender. And as a rule, avoid clicking on any link that seems unusual or requests urgent action.
Regularly Review and Update Security Information
Apple will always reach out to you via email, text, or notification when a new sign-in is attempted or anything on your account changes. But since you can’t proceed without verifying that you are the one using the account at that particular time, you need to ensure that you get these prompts. From time to time, check the information you’ve provided to Apple. In case there’s a mobile phone number or Apple device that is no longer yours, remove it immediately and update your information.
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