How to Prevent Unauthorized Parties From Using Siri in iOS

Security is important. We all have a Passcode set on our iOS devices, right? Right? (We’ll wait here while you do it…) You’re back? Good. Well did you know that even if your iOS device is locked, someone can still come along and pick up your device, and start having a conversation with Siri, the girl who knows everything about you? Here’s how to make sure unauthorized parties can’t talk to Siri without knowing that Passcode you just set.

On your iOS device, got to Settings -> General -> Passcode Lock and look under the “Allow Access When Locked” area.

You’ll see an ON/OFF switch for “Siri.” Simply tap that switch to change it to “OFF,” and unauthorized users will not be able to hold a conversation with Siri unless they know your Passcode. (And if that’s your screen that we’re looking at above, you might also want to set that “Erase Data” switch to “ON.”. A little extra security never hurts.)

If you use Siri all the time, this might not be a good setup for you. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a pain in the butt to have to enter your Passcode every time you want to say “Hi” to Siri, but if you’re a security conscious user, this is probably a setting you’re going to at least want to try for awhile and see how it works.

Thanks to The Mac Observer’s Melissa Holt for the original Siri “how to.”

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.