How to Keep Your Address Book & Calendar Private on an iPhone (15 Steps)
By Danielle Fernandez
Enabling password protection secures your iPhone from prying eyes, but there are also a few alternatives that can help further secure your private data. With the iCloud "Find My iPhone" feature, for example, you can protect your iPhone's digital content and remotely delete your contacts, calendar and other important information from a lost or stolen iOS device. To protect data like your contacts, photos, browser bookmarks and notes without the need to erase everything, you can use the Secret Apps app. Though it doesn't protect the iPhone's native Calendar, you can use its private browser to access a password-protected online calendar like Google Calendar instead.
Create a Screen-Locking Passcode
Step 1
Navigate to your iPhone's Home screen and tap "Settings."
Step 2
Tap "Passcode Lock" and then tap "Turn Passcode On."
Step 3
Enter a four-digit passcode and then re-enter it for verification. Allow a few moments for the iPhone to process your passcode and enable the feature.
iCloud "Find My iPhone"
Step 1
Tap "Settings" from your Home screen and tap "General."
Step 2
Tap "Restrictions" and then tap "Enable Restrictions." Enter a numeric passcode twice.
Step 3
Tap "Location" and then tap "Don't Allow Changes." If your location services are not protected, a thief can disable them and render the "Find My iPhone" locating feature useless.
Step 4
Tap "General" at the top left and then tap "iCloud." Enter your Apple ID and password when prompted.
Step 5
Toggle the "Find My iPhone" slider to "On." Tap "Allow" to confirm your intent to enable the feature.
Secret Apps
Step 1
Purchase and install the Secret Apps app from the iTunes App Store. Launch the app when installation is complete.
Step 2
Tap "PIN" or "Pattern" and then create a four-digit PIN or draw your finger through the dots to create a pattern password. Re-enter the PIN or pattern for verification. The app will then give you the option to send a password reminder to your email.
Step 3
Tap "Contacts" and then tap the "+" icon to add data. Tap "Import" and then allow access to your Contacts by tapping "OK."
Step 4
Tap a contact's name, review the information you wish to protect and then tap "Done." Repeat for additional contacts you wish to protect.
Step 5
Tap "Apps" to return to the main options and then tap "Web Browser."
Step 6
Enter the URL for a password-protected online calendar and allow the browser to navigate to the page. Log in with the appropriate user name or email and password when prompted.
Step 7
Tap the "Add Bookmark" icon, which looks like an outlined rectangle with a right-facing arrow, to the left of the address bar. Review the bookmark information and then tap "Save."
References
Tips
- Using the Restrictions feature -- located in the "General" settings menu -- you can prohibit changes to your Contacts and Calendar information but cannot restrict access to viewing the data.
- While configuring the passcode, you can also toggle the slider for "Simple Passcode" to "Off" and enable a more complex alphanumeric passcode.
- To use "Find My iPhone" if the device is lost or stolen, navigate any Web browser to the iCloud site (link in Resources) and log in using your Apple ID and password. Click the "Find My iPhone" icon and allow the app to locate your iPhone and then provide you with additional security options -- like remotely locking or erasing the data from your device.
- When using the Web browser within the Secret Apps app, your browsing history, passwords and bookmarks will not be visible to users who have not entered the appropriate PIN or password to access the app.
Warnings
- Information in this article applies to iPhones running iOS 6. It may vary slightly or significantly with other versions or products.
Writer Bio
Based in Tampa, Fla., Danielle Fernandez been writing, editing and illustrating all things technology, lifestyle and education since 1999. Her work has appeared in the Tampa Tribune, Working Mother magazine, and a variety of technical publications, including BICSI's "Telecommunications Distribution Methods Manual." Fernandez holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of South Florida.