Apple’s iOS 17 is nearly here—the updated operating system is arriving on September 18, the iPhone maker has confirmed. And iOS 17 comes with some amazing new privacy and security features, many of which will change the way you use your iPhone.
If you are an avid iPhone user like me, you’ve probably been looking forward to iOS 17 for some time. So, without further ado, here are the security and privacy features I am most excited about ahead of the release of the iPhone upgrade.
Live Voicemail
If, like me, you receive lots of calls you need to screen, this new iOS 17 feature will be a godsend. It works like this: Someone calls and leaves a voicemail. While they are speaking, their message appears on your iPhone as a live transcript. During that time, you can pick up the call, too. Pretty cool, huh?
NameDrop
AirDrop is pretty useful for exchanging large data files, and the new iOS 17 feature NameDrop aims to do the same but for contact details. NameDrop is great for when you meet someone—such as a date or business contact—and you want to exchange details securely and privately. The process looks seamless, with videos of the feature in action showing exactly how it works.
Link Tracking Protection
Another great new privacy feature coming in iOS 17 is Link Tracking Protection, a cool way of stopping websites and apps from tracking you. Apple is no stranger to this type of feature—the iPhone maker’s App Tracking Transparency helps prevent companies from tracking you without your explicit permission.
In iOS 17, Link Tracking Protection serves a similar purpose. Whether it’s Your Mail, Messages, or Safari, Apple will remove tracking links from URLs, allowing you to use your iPhone away from prying marketers’ eyes.
More iOS 17 Features About to Arrive
Apple’s iOS 17 comes with many more features, including enhancements to Passkeys that allow you to use the secure sign-in method anywhere using your Apple ID. There will also be improvements to Apple’s extra-secure Lockdown Mode as well as extra Communication and Safety features to help protect vulnerable adults and kids.
iOS 17 Security Updates
When Apple issues its iOS 17 upgrade, it’ll probably include some security fixes too, so stay tuned to my Forbes colleague Davey Winder’s page for the details. The current version of iOS is iOS 16.6.1 and you should ensure your iPhone is updated as it contains fixes for some serious vulnerabilities.
But Apple also knows that not everyone likes to update their iPhone to new versions straight away—especially major upgrades such as iOS 17. While Apple has been making an effort to ensure its big updates are less buggy, I have no doubt it will release an iOS 16 version to fix any significant security flaws.
Even so, I will certainly be updating to iOS 17, because I want to try out all the new features. Stay tuned for more news, reviews and how-tos over the next few weeks.
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