In a blog unveiling Apple’s 2024 Black Unity Collection, the company mentioned that it will release iOS 17.3 next week. In addition to the new Unity Bloom iPhone and iPad wallpaper, the update should bring key new features to protect your account if someone steals your iPhone.It’s terrible enough if someone does steal your phone. But, as reported by Joanna Stern in the Wall Street Journal, it can be a lot worse than you realize. Thieves have taken to waiting to steal your iPhone, hoping first to watch you unlock it. If they peek over your shoulder and see your unlock PIN, they can swipe your phone and use the PIN to change your account details and lock you out of your Apple ID with a password reset. That keeps you from accessing iCloud backups and from wiping the phone. From there, they can apply for an Apple Card or gain access to your banking apps.But iOS 17.3 should come with a big change to help prevent that tactic. In a new setting found in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection, you can turn on an option to require biometric login (FaceID or TouchID) to apply for a new Apple Card, erase the phone, or access your iCloud Keychain (Apple’s password manager). As for changing your Apple ID password, that will require both using a biometric login AND waiting an hour. Even if they managed to get past TouchID or FaceID somehow, that hour might help give you enough time to lock down the phone remotely.In addition to stolen device protection, iOS 17.3 will include a new Unity Bloom wallpaper. The wallpaper features red, green, and yellow flowers that bloom. Apple says the design is “inspired by the resilience and beauty of the Black community.” The updated OS will also bring collaborative music playlists, similar to the Spotify feature. With it, you can add friends or family to a playlist who can help curate the songs in it.
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Apple didn’t state exactly when it will release iOS 17.3, just that the Unity Bloom wallpapers would be released “next week” and require iOS 17.3.
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