The Federal Trade Commission estimates 9 million Americans are victims of identity theft each year, and the American Bar Association’s 2019 Legal Technology Survey indicated that over 25% of respondents reported that their firm had experienced a data breach! From a personal or professional standpoint, privacy and security on your mobile devices should be top of mind.
Fortunately for LIT SOFTWARE users, Apple is known for prioritizing privacy and security. That is especially important for lawyers who often see significant overlap in their business and personal devices. The built-in security of your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch is already robust. But, there’s an easy extra step you can take to ensure your Apple ID, and the information tied to it, is further protected. Implement one simple security measure: two-factor authentication for Apple ID. It is easy to set up and painless to use.
About 2FA
You’ve probably already heard of two-factor authentication (2FA), and you may even be using it already. If you don’t use it on your Apple devices, then you may be using it to sign into other services. If you have no idea what it is, it’s time to find out.
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to an account, device, or service. It requires your existing password, and then a second level of verification, usually by text message. Once it is set up, it is very easy to use, and the security benefits far outweigh the one-time inconvenience of typing in six digits after you’ve already entered your password. (Apple eliminates that inconvenience after your initial setup by using a trusted device system - see below.)
There are many other security measures you can and should take, including using strong passwords or passphrases, resetting your passwords regularly, using a different password for each account, and using a password app like 1Password (www.1password.com) to securely store and manage your passwords. But today, we will focus on how and why you should add two-factor authentication for your Apple ID.
2FA for Apple ID
Apple states that, “Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security for your Apple ID designed to ensure that you’re the only person who can access your account, even if someone knows your password.”
The first time you sign in to a new device (e.g. a new iPad), you’ll set up a password, and Apple will automatically send a unique verification code to one of your trusted devices (e.g. your iPhone). You’ll enter the code, and you’ll be ready to go on your new device. Additionally, once you’ve signed in to a device with two-factor authentication (e.g. your new iPad), that device will be saved as a trusted device, and you won’t be prompted to enter a verification code again. This significantly increases security for you. If anyone attempts to sign in to a device with your Apple ID you’ll be notified of the attempt on one of your trusted devices. Put simply, 2FA for Apple ID puts you in control.
Set It Up
In less than 5 seconds, you can check to see if you already have two-factor authentication set up (and opt in if you don’t). Here’s how:
1) On your iPad or iPhone, go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security.
2) Tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication.
3) Tap Continue.
More Info:
For more details about two-factor authentication, check out Apple’s support page: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204915
For a look at the security already in place on your Apple device, check out the iOS Security Guide: https://www.apple.com/business/site/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf