Add some security to your iPhone messages with these 4 simple steps

Waiting for Apple to release iOS 18 This fall, you can give your iPhone a security boost right now. Apple released iOS 17.2 in December, and that update included a highly sought-after security tool called Contact Key Verification. This tool is meant to help you verify that the person you’re texting is who they say they are, and you can enable it in just four steps.

In December 2022, Apple wrote that with Ignition Key Verification, people who might find themselves in dangerous situations, such as journalists, activists, and members of government organizations, can verify that they are sending messages to whom they intend to. While most people won’t end up targeted in this way, Apple wrote that the tool provides an important layer of security for those who might be.

Learn more: All the features iOS 18 could bring to your iPhone this fall

Here’s how to enable ignition key verification and how to use the new security feature. Note that both you and the person you’re messaging must have this feature enabled for it to work properly.

How to enable ignition key verification

1. Open Settings.
2. Press your Apple ID (your name and photo) at the top of your screen.
3. Faucet Checking the ignition key near the bottom of the menu.
4. Press the switch next to Verification in iMessage.

Next, you will see a splash screen that explains the ignition key check. Press Continue on this screen.

You may be redirected to another splash screen stating that you need to update some of your devices to enable the feature. You can tap ALL RIGHT and then update the devices, or you can tap Remove devices in settings. You should probably update your devices even if you don’t plan on using ignition key verification.

Verifying your identity and that of others

After enabling the feature, the Checking the ignition key The menu will have a new option called Show public verification code. Tap this new option and you’ll see a string of letters, numbers, and symbols. This code allows people to verify that they’re sending you a message.

Then press Copy verification code below your code, and you can paste your code anywhere you want to share it, like in a message or online. Now other people can verify that they’re messaging you, and if their code doesn’t match their online code, you’ll know you might not be talking to the right person.

Generate codes in messages

You can also generate a code with someone directly in Messages. This is a quick way for you and another person to verify identities and devices at the same time, but both you and the other person must have ignition key verification enabled for it to work.

If you both have the tool enabled, here’s how to create a code directly in Messages.

1. Open messages.
2. Start a conversation with someone or jump to the right conversation.
3. Tap the person’s name at the top of the conversation.
4. Faucet Check contact near the bottom of the menu.

Next, compare the six-digit codes generated on both devices. If the codes match, tap Mark as verified, then press Update on the next screen. That person’s contact card will now have the code associated with it and a check mark will appear next to their name in Messages.

If the codes do not match, press No matchYou may not be communicating with the right person and should stop messaging them until you can verify their identity.

For more on iOS 17, here’s what could be included in it iOS 17.6 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet. You can also check out what to know about iOS 18 so far and everything Apple announced at WWDC 2024.