With the release of iOS 18, Apple has taken a further step in its commitment to the security and privacy of its users. This new version brings with it a series of improvements and new features designed to offer you a safer and more private experience on your devices.

Discover in this blog all the details about the innovations that will make your mobile device more secure than ever!

If you’ve updated your device to iOS 18 or just got an iPhone with this operating system, you’ll be pleased to know that this new version from Apple not only introduces visual improvements but also significantly strengthens the protection of your personal information. It is now possible to set up a password or Face ID to access certain applications, as well as hide selected apps in an external folder, giving you greater control over the privacy of your device.

In addition, Apple has added a measure that directly affects iPhone components. This feature seeks to stop the sale of stolen parts by linking the device’s components to your Apple ID account to prevent them from being reused or sold in the event of theft. To do this, you must have the “Find” function activated.

Hide or lock an app with Face ID

This feature added in iOS 18 allows you to add an extra layer of security and privacy to those apps that may contain sensitive data or personal information, preventing others from accessing them. This option is available for any app on your device. This way, even if you share your device, your Face or passcode will still need to be used to use that app.

Furthermore, its content will be hidden in notifications and will not appear in searches. Thus, the information within the app will remain completely private.

This function can be done from both the main screen and the application library. To do this, you must hold your finger on the application you want to block, after which a menu will appear where you must select Require Face ID.

Doing so will bring up a new window to confirm that you will need the Face ID or security code to access the app. In this step, you also have the option to hide the app.

Once this feature is enabled, using the app will ask for the Face ID or the previously configured security code.

To reset the app and be able to access it without having to use this extra layer of security, simply hold your finger on the app and select Do not require Face ID.

Password App

The new Passwords app in iOS 18 is an evolution of the password manager that was previously integrated into the operating system settings. Previously, we could only store and sync our passwords between Apple devices. Now, with this app available since iOS and macOS 15, you can not only manage and sync your passwords between your Apple devices but also with devices that use Windows, expanding its compatibility and making it easier to use across different platforms.

The app maintains a high degree of security by requiring FaceID or another recognition method to access your keys. In addition to storing keys, it allows you to save two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and passkeys, and it has the option to manage groups to securely share passwords with selected contacts. From the main window of this app, you will find the following:

Codes: Once you use two-factor authentication codes on a website or service, they will automatically appear in this list.
Security: This section presents passwords that may have presented some type of vulnerability and could compromise your security.
Access keys: Passkeys add an additional layer of security, allowing you to log in to different services more quickly and securely, using methods such as biometrics on your mobile phone.
Wi-Fi: You can view all the Wi-Fi network passwords you have saved on your device.
Deleted: This section stores passwords you have deleted for 30 days so that you can recover them if they were deleted by mistake.
Shared groups: You can manage and create specific groups to share passwords with contacts you select. Once you select these contacts, they will also see these credentials in their application.

When you access any of these options, you’ll see a list of all the credentials you’ve saved for different websites, although sensitive information won’t be displayed immediately. You’ll also have a search feature that makes it easier to find what you need if you have a lot of credentials stored.

Selecting one of these tabs will give you access to all stored details. You will also have the option to edit this information or change the order in which the entries are displayed.

From the app, you can also edit existing passwords, create new credentials for websites, and receive alerts about passwords that may have been leaked, duplicated, or too simple, helping you keep your data protected at all times.