Privacy and Security

The Best VPN apps for iPhones and iPads can be difficult to choose. Between looking for VPN apps that don’t track you, that provide good server coverage, good customer service, and all the different features, there is a lot to check up on. We’ve written before about what a VPN is and what to look for when shopping for a VPN, but here we’ll list our favorite VPN apps, with a special emphasis on ease of use and simplicity rather than feature bloat. 

For two decades, I've been adding smart features to my home, including a video doorbell, smart light switches, Alexa devices and more. But for most of that time, I have relied on X-10 motion-sensing floodlights and analog cameras for security. But now that changes, because ANNKE sent me a Floodlight Cam ($135.99) to try and, while not perfect, it has many benefits over the older technology.

I have been using a Ring video doorbell since they were introduced, but I've had some concerns about them so I was glad to try the Arlo Video Doorbell ($149.99) when Arlo sent a review unit. The Arlo addresses a couple of the issues I've had with Ring, specifically, the unit is narrower so it fits better on my door trim compared to the wider Ring version.

You can keep your navigation history a secret in Google Maps on your iPhone by using the new Incognito mode feature. This new way to hide your location history in Google Maps on your iPhone is similar to Incognito mode in Google Chrome, which offers a private browsing window and deletes browsing history when it's closed. This tip will show you how to keep your Google Maps location searches, maps, and navigation history private by using Incognito mode in the iPhone Google Maps app. And what information doesn't get hidden by Google Maps Incognito mode.

If you’re rockin’ an iPhone or iPad with Facial recognition, and using Face ID to unlock your device, access apps, and pay for stuff, you’re part of an elite crowd of people who have embraced Face ID and jumped into modern technology feet first. But what should you do if your Face ID is not working or your Face ID is not available? Continue reading for fixes for when your Face ID is disabled that will make your iPhone recognize your face again. We'll also cover reasons why your Face ID may not be working.

I am all-in on the digital economy. I use my Apple Watch and Apple Pay and Apple Card to conduct commerce. I try to carry as few credit cards as possible. But my wife still uses a checkbook and assorted credit cards, including store-specific payment and loyalty cards. But she also needs her iPhone when out and about. A cell phone purse is a great way to combine her old and new requirements, so I let her try the sample the Mule Clutch Wallet ($66.50) that Allett sent me.

Forgot your email password? Maybe you suspect a hacker has accessed your email account?  In this article, I'll cover how to change email passwords for accounts linked to the Apple Mail app, or their own app, on your iPhone or iPad. We'll go through seven easy steps to reset your password for the most popular, free email provider, Gmail. If you have an email account from Yahoo, Outlook, or another provider, this step-by-step will still help you update your password. It's best to change your passcode as soon as possible, for security reasons, and so you can regain access to your messages, so let's get started.  

For an extra layer of protection when using the Notes app, Apple now allows you to create a unique password for each of your Notes accounts, whether that's iCloud, On iPhone or On iPad, or an email-associated account. Before iOS 13, when you locked a note with a passcword for the first time, that password became the password for locking notes in all your Notes app accounts. You can now create a unique password for a Notes account by going to Notes in the Settings app and selecting Password. 

I go to a lot of trade shows, not just technology ones like the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas but also the NY Toy Fair, hoping to find smartphone-related gadgets that would be of interest to iPhone Life readers. That's how I discovered BLOCKERZ Camera Covers ($13.99) from Zorbitz. They are a wholesaler but you can find their products at Amazon, Urban Outfitters, and other retailers. They gave me a sample to try and it turns out, it's not just for iPhones.

Security and privacy is in the news, as it should be based on recent breaches, so SecureData has a way to help you keep your private stuff private. The company sells a variety of hard drives in capacities from 1 TB using a mechanical hard disk drive (HDD) all the way up to an 8 TB solid state disk (SSD) although they get expensive at that size. SecureData sent me their SecureDrive BT (starting at $285) to try.

I've been researching and reviewing a wide variety of security cameras but the common thread seems to be that you have to pay a lot to protect your valuables. However, the folks at Wyze sent me their Wyze Cam Pan ($29.99). For around $30, you get a remarkably full-featured indoor camera that has capabilities beyond cameras costing twice as much. For example, the Pan in the name stands for Panorama. The camera actually rotates on its own, covering 360 degrees, at 110 degrees per second, sensing motion and recording in 12-second increments. You can even mount it on an industry-standard tripod mount. This makes it ideal as a security camera in a centralized, wide open area of your house. While it is for inside use only, it incorporates night vision thanks to 6 infrared LEDs, for 18 shades of gray.

I reviewed the Reolink Go a while back, and while I liked it, I don't have a remote property that requires a cellular plan for transmitting videos. So I was interested in the more affordable Wi-Fi-based model, and the folks at Reolink asked me to try their Argus Eco ($74.99). It's a lot more affordable, and there's no ongoing plan required. You can provide your own microSD card, up to 64 GB, for storage or leverage Reolink's cloud service. The company has a free plan and reasonably priced offerings if you want to store recordings beyond seven days. The same companion app works with all of the company's cameras, so you could mix and match.

There are two ways to approach indoor security cameras. You can have a really obvious one that acts as a deterrent but is also often ugly. Or you can have a tiny hidden camera, perhaps embedded into a teddy bear or wall charger. The folks at Momentum sent me their new Robbi Wi-Fi Camera ($99.99) and it breaks the mold. It's beautiful and obviously takes its design cues from the Eve robot in the movie Wall-E. You won't mind displaying this security camera in plain site. It comes with an extra long microUSB cable, about ten feet long, and adapters to wall mount the device either via a couple of screws (not included) or adhesive tape (included.)

If you’ve forgotten your Notes password, then you’ll need to reset your password in order to lock your notes. To reset your Notes password, you’ll need to navigate to the Notes section of the Settings app and log in with your Apple ID. This is also how you change a Notes app password that you already know. Read on to learn how to reset a forgotten Notes password.

If you've set up Screen Time for your child's iOS devices and have blocked or limited social media and other apps, those apps's services may still be accessible via their URL websites, providing kids with a way get around your restrictions. Here's how to limit access to those websites on any browser on an iPhone or iPad so you'll be able to fully block an app's website and not worry about kids finding a way to use them. This tip can also be used by adults who are trying to limit their own social media use.

Over the years, I've reviewed a number of smart locks from Igloo Home and the company now has something for just about every customer and need, from door locks to lock boxes and now the Smart Padlock ($109). Igloo Home sent me the padlock to test; and just in time, as I was setting up a storage locker for my daughter to use at college.

As someone who gets a lot of packages, not just from Amazon, but also shipments that I wasn't expecting (as a gadget reviewer), I am very interested in ways to secure said packages. One such package that arrived was the BoxLock ($129) and its purpose is to help with just such concerns.

The Worldwide Developers Conference 2019 keynote event has come and gone, leaving us with an array of updates, reorganizations, additions, and hardware to assimilate into our mental map of Apple products and services. Rumors were flying about the death of iTunes, new iOS, watchOS, and Mac features; now let’s go over what really happened, and what it means for both Apple developers and customers.