Apple shares manual on how to lock devices when personal security is at risk

Apple recently shared a manual [PDF] which describes the steps you need to take to protect your devices and your data when you run a personal security risk. It is designed for people who need to protect themselves from being tracked by a loved one, a bully, or another malicious person.

There are many location sharing and data sharing tools available on iOS, and those unfamiliar with how these services work will find detailed instructions on protecting their location, data, and more.

If you’re concerned about someone accessing information you haven’t shared from your Apple device, this guide will also help you identify risks and guide you through the steps to make the technology you trust as private and secure as you want to be .

The document instructs users to upgrade their software to the latest version of iOS, to reset the device to factory settings, and to protect a device with a password, passwords, Touch ID, and Face ID. It has steps to protect an Apple ID with two-factor authentication and details on how to use built-in privacy tools to prevent applications from accessing data.

There are also detailed instructions on how to make sure location information isn’t shared with people who shouldn’t be in the Find My app and to ensure that your data, photos, calendars, and other data of iCloud are protected and not shared.

The document includes steps for deleting unknown third-party applications and unknown configuration profiles that can be used maliciously to track.

Complete with several checklists on how to determine if someone else has access to a device or account, how to stop sharing content with people you’ve previously shared, and how to make sure no one else can see the location of a device .