Right now, anyone can pick up your iPad, turn it on, and see all the information stored on it, such as your email messages, appointments, or important contacts (names and phone numbers). To help keep your iPad's information private, you can turn on the passcode feature.
The passcode feature, which is different from the parental controls discussed in Chapter 8, lets you set a four-digit code that someone must enter before they can use your iPad at all. If some–one tries guessing your passcode, you can even have your iPad automatically erase its data after 10 failed passcode attempts. By turning on this passcode feature, you can protect your data from spies and nosy relatives.
In this chapter you'll learn how to define a passcode to limit access to your iPad and keep others from identifying the location of your iPad.
Initially, your iPad does not require a passcode to start using it. Just press the Home button or the On/Off button, slide your finger across the screen to unlock the Home screen, and you (or anyone else who gets a hold of your iPad) can start peeking through your data. A passcode simply acts like a password that locks out strangers from using your iPad.
You can define a simple or regular passcode to block access to your iPad. A simple passcode lets you define a four-digit number to block access. A regular passcode lets you define a passcode of more than four characters that can consist of letters and symbols. To set a simple or regular passcode, follow these steps:
From the Home screen, tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
Tap General. The General settings screen appears.
Tap Passcode Lock. The Passcode Lock settings screen appears, as shown in Figure 9-1.
(Optional) Tap the Simple Passcode on/off switch. When set to ON, you can define a four-digit passcode. When set to OFF, you can define a passcode of letters and symbols.
Tap Turn Passcode On. A Set Passcode screen appears, as shown in Figure 9-2.
Type a code using the number pad or virtual keyboard.
A second Set Passcode screen appears. Type your code a second time to verify that you remember what it is.
Press the Home button.
Warning
If you forget your passcode, you'll lock yourself out of your iPad, so make sure you remember it!
If you have already defined a passcode but want to change it to a different one or remove it entirely, you can by following these steps:
From the Home screen, tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
Tap General. The General settings screen appears.
Tap Passcode Lock. An Enter Passcode screen appears.
Type your current passcode. The Passcode Lock settings screen appears.
(Optional) Tap Change Passcode. A Change Passcode screen appears.
(Optional) Tap Turn Passcode Off.
Type your current code.
Type a new code.
A second Set Passcode screen appears. Type your new code a second time to verify that you remember what it is.
Press the Home button.
If you often turn your iPad off and on in short intervals throughout the day, you may not want to keep typing in a passcode. In that case, you can adjust the time interval before your iPad will ask for the passcode. The longer the time interval, the less chance you'll constantly need to keep typing in a passcode each time you turn on your iPad. However, the longer the time interval, the greater the chance that someone can steal or peek at your iPad and see all your data.
To define the time interval before your iPad asks for a passcode, follow these steps:
From the Home screen, tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
Tap General. The General settings screen appears.
Tap Passcode Lock. An Enter Passcode screen appears.
Type your passcode. The Passcode Lock settings screen appears.
Tap Require Passcode. The Require Passcode settings screen appears, as shown in Figure 9-3.
Tap an option such as Immediately, After 5 minutes, or After 1 hour.
Press the Home button.
Turning on the passcode feature can prevent a thief from peeking at your iPad's data. However, for even more security, you can make your iPad automatically erase its data if someone tries 10 incorrect passcodes in a row. To turn on this data-erasing feature after you have already defined a passcode, follow these steps:
From the Home screen, tap Settings. The Settings screen appears.
Tap General. The General settings screen appears.
Type your passcode. The Passcode Lock settings screen appears.
Tap the Erase Data on/off switch. If you turn it ON, a message appears letting you know that your iPad will erase its data after 10 failed passcode attempts, as shown in Figure 9-4.
Tap Enable or Cancel.
Press the Home button.
Since the iPad is so small and light (and popular), use a passcode to deny thieves access to your data if they happen to steal your iPad. For more security, read Chapter 32 to learn how to locate your iPad whenever it's turned on and near a Wi-Fi or 4G network. You'll also learn how to encrypt your backups.
Perhaps the best way to keep strangers from peeking at your iPad is to keep your iPad out of sight whenever you're in a public area, especially when you're outdoors. If you stare at your iPad in a public place, your attention will be diverted from your surroundings, which makes it easy for a thief to grab your iPad since you'll be unaware of the thief's approach. Use your iPad indoors, or make sure you're aware of your surroundings if you use the iPad outside. By always being alert for possible thieves who might target your iPad, you can minimize the chances that you'll lose it.