Apple’s iPhone event has been confirmed for September 12, which can only mean one thing: iOS 17 is just around the corner.
Announced at Apple’s WWDC conference in June, iOS 17 will be worth the wait. Apple’s updated iPhone software comes with some amazing features that can make a big difference to your security and privacy.
Take iOS 17’s Live Voicemail, for example: a striking feature that is also very useful.
In true Apple fashion, iOS 17 also comes with several subtle improvements that make it the iPhone maker’s most secure and private operating system to date.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming in iOS 17 and why it’ll be a groundbreaking change for your iPhone.
Security for following links
One of the best new features in iOS 17, in my opinion, is Link Tracking Protection. Building on Apple’s App Tracking Transparency feature that helps stop tracking between websites and apps, Link Tracking protection prevents websites from adding additional information to their URLs for marketing purposes. Apple does this in iOS 17 by seamlessly removing tracking URLs from links you send in your Messages, Mail, and Safari.
NameDrop
Want to share your data with someone securely, privately and easily? Look no further: NameDrop in iOS 17 lets you do that in much the same way as Apple’s famous AirDrop, and it’s super secure because it’s over an encrypted connection.
Live Voicemail
Live Voicemail is a great feature because it allows you to see who is calling you through a transcript on your screen when they leave a voicemail. Better yet, this iOS 17 feature lets you take the call while they leave the voicemail, if you prefer.
Passwords
In iOS 17, everyone with an Apple ID is assigned an access key, meaning you can use the new authentication method whenever you want to sign in with your Apple ID from anywhere. Passkeys, first announced in iOS 16, lets you log into services securely, without the need for a password, using Face ID or Touch ID.
When is iOS 17 coming?
While iOS 17 will launch alongside the new iPhones at Apple’s event, it won’t appear right away. It’s likely to come later in the week, probably on Friday, September 15, so keep your eyes peeled.
At the time of writing, iOS 16.6 is the most recent update available and comes with a number of security fixes, so make sure your iPhone is running it now.
Normally I would expect another security update in August, but it’s possible that Apple will wait until the iPhone’s launch in September to fix security vulnerabilities in iOS 17. I’m pretty sure Apple will also release an iOS 16 update to patch any security holes for people who want to hold off on updating to iOS 17.
Which iPhones and iPads can run iOS 17?
Apple’s latest and greatest operating system won’t be available for all iPhones, and iOS 17 will only run on iPhone XS and later. Unfortunately, this means the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X won’t be running iOS 17; However, Apple will keep iOS 16 updated with security fixes.
More iOS 17 features coming soon
Other upcoming iOS 17 features include improvements to Apple’s super-secure Lockdown Mode and multiple communications safety improvements to protect children and vulnerable adults.
More security and privacy features are sure to come, so check back here for iOS 17 updates, including how-to articles and other Apple news.
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