Apple has officially released iOS 17.3 and introduced a new security feature to prevent thieves from taking your iPhone, thereby minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to anything stored in iCloud, as well as other important accounts such as your bank or email.
The feature also introduces a waiting period when performing more sensitive actions, such as changing your Apple ID password or your iPhone passcode.
In the iOS 17.3 update note, Apple says, “Security Delay requires Face ID or Touch ID, an hour wait, and then an additional successful biometric authentication” before you can complete the process, ensuring the person who’s performing this action is actually you. Your iPhone will only require this extra layer of authentication when you’re away from “familiar locations such as home or work,” according to Apple.
To turn on Stolen Device Protection, head to the Settings app and select Face ID & Passcode. From there, enter your device passcode and toggle the feature on. You can learn more about Stolen Device Protection from Apple’s website.
