Apple released iOS 14.5 this week. You’ll need it for use with Apple’s new AirTags, but you may want to download it even if you’re not getting Apple’s trackers. The new update brings the long-awaited privacy opt-out to iOS. Yes, the one that has Facebook in a panic. It also brings a feature we’ve been waiting all pandemic for, a feature to make unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask seamless.
Could have used that a year ago, Apple. Or at least Touch ID.
The new features will help you keep your iPhone secure and keep your private data private. You should update now, if you haven’t already.
Face Unlock
When you’re covering your face with your mask, Face ID can’t recognize you. It won’t unlock your phone. That much hasn’t changed with iOS 14.5. However, rather than asking you for a potentially long passcode, Apple Watch users will simply feel a nudge on their wrist, and their iPhone will unlock. The nudge tells users that their watch unlocked their iPhone, and gives them a button to lock it again, in case the phone was unlocked accidentally. Your iPhone will not require you to look directly at it, so you’ll want to pay attention for that double nudge and unlock sound. If you hear it when you didn’t mean to unlock your device, just tap the button on your Apple Watch to lock your phone again. In my testing, it’s incredibly fast and seamless, though I have had a few accidental unlocks.
To enable this after updating, make sure your Apple Watch is also up to date (watchOS 7.4). Then go into Settings > Face ID & Passcode and scroll down until you see a section that says “Unlock with Apple Watch.” Turn it on for your Apple Watch. It’s that easy. You’ll have to make sure your Apple Watch has a passcode, is unlocked, and is in close proximity to your iPhone (you know, like on your wrist) Once the pandemic is over (that is, if it ever ends), you can turn this feature off to ensure your iPhone has the best security around.
Privacy Protection
After you update to iOS 14.5, you won’t be flooded with requests for your data. Instead, app developers can wait to send you the request. They may have done this so they can go without your data for a while, in exchange for you being more likely to allow the data collection later. But you can beat them at their own game and block all tracking automatically. This won’t even give Facebook and others a chance to even ask to track you. You can block them by default.
To do this, once again go into Settings. From there, select Privacy. Tap Tracking. Turn off “Allow Apps to Request to Track.” Now apps won’t be able to track you across other apps, and they won’t even get a chance to ask you to change your mind.
Apple’s new features help make the iPhone safer and easier to use. Definitely make sure you update soon.
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