Lockdown Mode

After reading about it, I gave Lockdown Mode a try:

Lockdown Mode disables or restricts such commonly used tools and activities as photo sharing, payment applications and use of unsecured local networks—all features that attackers often exploit to install spyware through phishing attempts and malicious downloads.

Unsolicited FaceTime calls and messages from unknown contacts are blocked. Standard features of modern messaging, like preview links and automatic media downloads, also are disabled. Links to images or files appear as plain text URLs without previews or direct opening options. Popular features like Apple Pay become limited, too. When someone sends money through Apple Cash, recipients see only a generic notification rather than specific payment details. Payment integrations also become more limited in third-party apps.

Users can still approve access to trusted websites and applications for more flexibility. But in return for beefed up security, Lockdown Mode essentially transforms iPhones, iPads and Macs into stripped-down versions of themselves.

Accessing the feature on the iPhone is easy. Go to Settings>Privacy and Security>Lockdown Mode, then press a series of buttons to restart the phone.

The only drawbacks seem to be that there now are constant reminders to set Lockdown mode on my other Apple devices (iPad, Mac) and that the phone works more slowly.

Trading speed for more security is worthwhile for this non-power user, and I will be using Lockdown Mode when I go out of town.