Key iPhone security feature you need to switch on NOW – it only takes seconds

THE internet is awash with hackers and scammers looking to pinch your credit card details and online logins.

Fortunately, your iPhone is loaded with a powerful tool called iCloud Keychain that’s easy to use and makes your accounts more secure.

AppleYour iPhone has some seriously impressive security features you probably didn’t know about[/caption]

What are iCloud Keychain and Safari Strong Passwords?

We’re constantly told to choose complicated passwords – but that’s difficult with so many accounts.

iCloud Keychain remembers the passwords you type on your phone, encrypts them, and stores them in the cloud.

So you can choose very strong passwords without having to remember them – your phone will simply enter them for you at log in.

This is one of the best defences against hackers.

“iCloud Keychain remembers things so that you don’t have to,” Apple explains.

“It auto-fills your information – like your Safari usernames and passwords, credit cards, Wi-Fi networks and social log-ins – on any device that you approve.

“iCloud Keychain stores your passwords and credit card information in such a way that Apple cannot read or access them.”

And the Safari web browser now has a special feature called Strong Passwords.

When you sign up to a service on Safari, you’ll get an option to use an auto-generated password that’s very difficult for hackers to crack.

This password is automatically saved in your iCloud Keychain so you don’t even have to remember it.

You can also add passwords you already have into the Keychain.

But one of the best features is the password re-use alert.

It’s important to never use the same password on multiple accounts. If you do re-use passwords, hackers who break into one account can then get access to others.

Your Safari Saved Passwords will alert you when you have two passwords that match, and suggest a change for you.

AppleSetting up iCloud Keychain is an easy way to keep hackers out of your accounts[/caption]

AppleSafari Strong Passwords will automatically generate and can be saved to your iCloud Keychain[/caption]

How to set up iCloud Keychain

First, you’ll need to make sure you’re using an Apple device running iOS 7.0.3 or later, or OS X 10.9 or later for Macs.

On your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, follow these steps:

Tap Settings > [your name] > iCloud (on iOS 10.2 or earlier, it’s just Settings > iCloud)Tap KeychainTap the slider to turn on iCloud Keychain

For Mac devices, here’s what you need to do:

Click the Apple menu in the top leftChoose System PreferencesSelect iCloudSelect Keychain

How to view iCloud Keychain passwords

On an iPhone with iOS 11 or later:

Tap Settings > Accounts & Passwords > App & Website PasswordsUse Touch ID or Face ID when promptedTap a website to view your password

On an iPhone with iOS 10.3 or earlier:

Tap Settings > Safari > PasswordsUse Touch ID or Face ID to enter your device passcodeTap a website to view your password

On a Mac with OS X Mavericks 10.9 or later:

Choose Safari > PreferencesClick PasswordsSelect a website to view your passwordsSelect Show passwords for selected websites at the bottom of the windowEnter your Mac password

You can check these passwords at any time.

In other news, personalised smart guns, which can be fired only by verified users, may finally become available to U.S. consumers this year.

Scientists are embarking on a mission to unravel the mystery behind dozens of grisly child mummies buried in an underground tomb in Sicily.

Police have caught an Italian mafia henchman who’d be on the run for 20 years after spotting the fugitive on Google Maps.

And, one of the best-preserved fossils ever found has confirmed that young dinosaurs burst from their shells just like baby birds.

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