Is Your iPhone Protected? New Apple Data Shows 23% Of Users Missing Vital Security Feature

InnovationConsumer TechIs Your iPhone Protected? New Apple Data Shows 23% Of Users Missing Vital Security FeatureByDavid Phelan,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about lifestyle techFollow AuthorJun 11, 2026, 08:23pm EDTApple iPhone 17 ProVCG via Getty ImagesPhone theft is a serious issue and in some cities, such as London, for example, is widespread — though recent figures at least show an improvement. Now, Apple has shared details of how many people have the latest security protections in place — and how many need to turn them on. ForbesApple iOS 27 Release Date: When You Can Download The New iPhone Software — Starts NowBy David PhelanApple introduced Stolen Device Protection for the iPhone in 2024 and it improved security significantly. New data shared with me by Apple shows that 77% of devices running the latest version of iOS in the U.K. have the protection enabled. I’ve long been an advocate for the protection and urged anyone who would listen to turn it on. In recent months, Apple turned Stolen Device Protection on by default, which is important. With the protection activated it means that if an iPhone, say, is stolen then users have time to mark the device as lost. As soon as that happens, thieves are unable to make critical changes to the device. So, because they can’t add their biometrics to the iPhone, it reduces the chances of a thief being able to access banking apps, for example. MORE FOR YOUThe Puzzle Behind The Missing 23%Since the protection is now on by default, the 77% figure, though very high, may seem puzzling. I believe it’s because if a user turned Stolen Device Protection off, for whatever reason, in the past, it would not be on by default in the future. Which means that 23% of iPhone users in the U.K. are not as secure as they could be. Fortunately, the solution is simple: go to Settings, then Privacy & Security and scroll down to Stolen Device Protection (it’s right at the b...