iOS 18—New iPhone Security And Privacy Features Arriving In Days

Apple’s iOS 18 update is launching in days, along with the iPhone 16. I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty excited about trying out the new features that come with the iOS 18 upgrade, which will be launched at the iPhone maker’s official event on September 9.

So, what security and privacy features are coming when Apple launches its iOS 18 update in a few days’ time?

iOS 18 Built In Password Manager App

For the first time ever, iPhone users will have access to a built in password app on iPhones running iOS 18. Once you upgrade to iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or macOS Sequoia, the password app will be installed.

Backed by the gold standard of security, end-to-end encryption, the app stores all your credentials.

It’s a massive improvement on the current iCloud Keychain, which is hidden in your Settings and doesn’t have the same breadth of features as password managers such as 1Password.

The new iOS 18 app streamlines log in and password management, making it easier to create and manage credentials across apps and websites. It will include separate sections for passwords and logins, Passkeys, two-factor authentication (2FA) codes, Wi-Fi passwords, security warnings and logins you have deleted.

With a simple layout, the iOS 18 app will include a search bar for you to enter key searches into. Meanwhile, you can tap on sections to see what’s listed and change passwords easily. You can also share select passwords with your trusted contacts by creating groups that can access specific credentials.

The iOS 18 app contains a dedicated security section that will alert you if a password is weak or has been exposed in a breach so you can change it.

If you’re already using the iCloud Keychain, the iOS 18 passwords app will come ready to go—just authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID. If you want to import passwords from other services such as LastPass, Apple will add this functionality soon, but it’s not currently available.

“The upcoming Passwords app on iOS 18 will offer a simple solution for accessing passwords, balancing security with ease of use,” says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET.

iOS 18’s Locked And Hidden Apps

Another very cool new iOS 18 feature is the ability to protect sensitive apps and the information inside them when others are using your device.

You can lock an app to require Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode for access. Information from the app won’t appear in other places across the system, including search and notifications, so others don’t inadvertently see sensitive information, Apple says.

At the same time, you can hide any apps you want to keep private by moving them to a hidden apps folder locked with Face ID or Touch ID.

Other iOS 18 Security And Privacy Changes

There are also some more subtle security and privacy enhancements coming with the new iPhone software. Once you’ve upgraded to iOS 18, you can decide which contacts to share with an app, rather than giving it access to all. At the same time, an improved Privacy and Security settings menu makes it easier to manage how much information you’re sharing with apps.

Bluetooth privacy will get a boost too. App developers will be able to offer a new way to pair accessories while protecting information about your nearby Bluetooth devices.

If you own the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max—or if you are upgrading to the iPhone 16— iOS 18 introduces Apple Intelligence AI features in iOS 18.1 coming probably at the end of October. This will certainly come with its own security and privacy controls.

Features such as the password manager and the ability to lock and hide apps provides users with “greater control and protection over their data,” Moore says. However, he points out that the new iPhone tools won’t be turned on by default “so people may need some gentle encouragement to make full use of them.”

iOS 18 Key Facts

There are certainly some exciting new features coming in iOS 18, so when can you access them? Apple will launch the operating system at its event on September 9 and you’ll probably be able to access it on your current device the week after on September 16. Apple’s iOS 18 will ship with the iPhone 16s when they go on sale, which is likely to be on September 20.

You can access iOS 18 if you own the iPhone XS and newer. However, Apple will keep iOS 17 up to date with key security fixes.

Apple’s iOS 18 will also come with its own list of security fixes, so keep your eyes out for my coverage on the area.

I’ll be going through the iOS 18 privacy and security features as they arrive, so keep checking my articles for tips and how tos.