1. Strong Passcode lock
If you have an iPhone 5s you have Touch ID which lets you, if you choose to use it, secure your device with a biometric fingerprint identity sensor that can be used to authenticate you instead of a Passcode lock. Because you no longer have to enter a Passcode as often, you can switch to a stronger, longer, more complex Password lock instead. Sure, once in a while it'll be a pain to enter it, but that's offset by how infrequently you have to do it - only when you reboot, fail Touch ID 5 times, or don't use your phone for 48 hours.If you're really concerned about security, and are willing to give up on convenience for it, turn Touch ID off and go with a strong, complex password.
2. Personal notifications and System toggles
What good is a super-strong Passcode lock if anyone and everyone can see your messages, Notification Centeralerts, access Passbook, or use Siri or Control Center right from your Lock screen? Sure, it's incredibly convenient to be able to glance at incoming messages and quickly add things to Reminders or Notes, but for those times when you don't think you can safely leave your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad lying around without people snooping, remember you can turn all that Lock screen stuff off.If you have an iPhone 5s, turning off Siri isn't as inconvenient. If you wake up your iPhone first, Touch ID will authorize you as part of the long press to launch Siri anyway. (Hopefully Apple adds the ability for TouchID to authorize Siri from sleep at some point as well.)
3. Turn on 2-step verification
Security works best in layers, and defensive depth means having as many layers are possible. Touch ID now provides biometrics on the iPhone 5s so "something you are", while the password is "something you know", a token is "something you have". It's not full-on multi-factor authentication, at least not yet (because it's still either or, not all), but it is 2-step verification and, when it comes to security, 2 steps really are better than one. You will have to enter an app-specific password, or an additional pincode/password the first time you set up the service on your device, but it'll make it more than twice as strong for only a minimal amount of extra effort. Do it.
4. Web browsing, location, social and other data private
Let's say you're not looking at porn - we don't judge! - but you still want to make sure cookies, web history, and other information about your browsing doesn't get recorded and tracked across the internet. Safari pioneered private browsing, so that's easy to do. In fact, on iOS 7 Private Browsing can be enabled from the bookmark, tabs, and smart search field screens, so it's even easier and more convenient than ever.
5. Wipe web history and other data from your device
If you didn't initially use Safari's private browsing, or you want to clear other personal, private, potentially embarrassing, compromising, or just plain awkward data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, including messages, mail, photos, and more, you can. You even have the nuclear option of securely wiping your entire device, and killing old backups, so you can start over fresh, clean, and safe.
If you have an iPhone 5s you have Touch ID which lets you, if you choose to use it, secure your device with a biometric fingerprint identity sensor that can be used to authenticate you instead of a Passcode lock. Because you no longer have to enter a Passcode as often, you can switch to a stronger, longer, more complex Password lock instead. Sure, once in a while it'll be a pain to enter it, but that's offset by how infrequently you have to do it - only when you reboot, fail Touch ID 5 times, or don't use your phone for 48 hours.If you're really concerned about security, and are willing to give up on convenience for it, turn Touch ID off and go with a strong, complex password.
2. Personal notifications and System toggles
What good is a super-strong Passcode lock if anyone and everyone can see your messages, Notification Centeralerts, access Passbook, or use Siri or Control Center right from your Lock screen? Sure, it's incredibly convenient to be able to glance at incoming messages and quickly add things to Reminders or Notes, but for those times when you don't think you can safely leave your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad lying around without people snooping, remember you can turn all that Lock screen stuff off.If you have an iPhone 5s, turning off Siri isn't as inconvenient. If you wake up your iPhone first, Touch ID will authorize you as part of the long press to launch Siri anyway. (Hopefully Apple adds the ability for TouchID to authorize Siri from sleep at some point as well.)
3. Turn on 2-step verification
Security works best in layers, and defensive depth means having as many layers are possible. Touch ID now provides biometrics on the iPhone 5s so "something you are", while the password is "something you know", a token is "something you have". It's not full-on multi-factor authentication, at least not yet (because it's still either or, not all), but it is 2-step verification and, when it comes to security, 2 steps really are better than one. You will have to enter an app-specific password, or an additional pincode/password the first time you set up the service on your device, but it'll make it more than twice as strong for only a minimal amount of extra effort. Do it.
4. Web browsing, location, social and other data private
Let's say you're not looking at porn - we don't judge! - but you still want to make sure cookies, web history, and other information about your browsing doesn't get recorded and tracked across the internet. Safari pioneered private browsing, so that's easy to do. In fact, on iOS 7 Private Browsing can be enabled from the bookmark, tabs, and smart search field screens, so it's even easier and more convenient than ever.
5. Wipe web history and other data from your device
If you didn't initially use Safari's private browsing, or you want to clear other personal, private, potentially embarrassing, compromising, or just plain awkward data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, including messages, mail, photos, and more, you can. You even have the nuclear option of securely wiping your entire device, and killing old backups, so you can start over fresh, clean, and safe.
