A new iPhone feature can help keep your money safe—here’s how to turn it on

Experiencing the frustration of having your phone stolen is aggravating on its own, and it becomes even more infuriating when the thief goes a step further by hacking into your apps and depleting your bank accounts.

However, in the face of such potential troubles, there is a silver lining for iPhone users. Apple has introduced a new feature, Stolen Device Protection, designed to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and the manipulation of sensitive information, such as passwords or Face ID.

This innovative security measure, incorporated in the iOS 17.3 software update, was unveiled late last year following a revealing investigation by the Wall Street Journal. The investigation exposed how thieves were exploiting the vulnerabilities of iPhone users with relative ease. The update, addressing these concerns, was rolled out to users on Monday.

Previously, scammers could acquire an iPhone user's passcode or gain access to an already-unlocked phone, allowing them to disable existing anti-theft features like Activation Lock and Lost Mode. Subsequently, thieves could use the obtained passcode or update the Face ID to their own, seizing control of the phone and potentially compromising banking and payment apps.

Enter Stolen Device Protection, a safeguard against such exploits. This feature works to make it more challenging for unauthorized users to manipulate your phone and its sensitive information. The following outlines how you can activate this protective measure on your iPhone.