Securing the iPhone, iPod, iPad, iPad Mini, and iOS Devices

Overview

Apple provides basic parental control features for parents wishing to tailor how their child can use an iPod, iPhone, or iPad.  On Apple's mobile devices, parental controls are called, "Restrictions".  Enabling Restrictions prevents access to the following:

  1. Specific applications and features on the device such as:
    1. Safari
    2. Camera
    3. FaceTime
    4. iTunes
    5. iBookstore
    6. Installing apps
    7. Deleting apps
    8. Siri
    9. Explicit language for Siri
  2. Specific content by rating.  Restrictions will not filter web page content:
    1. Ratings (select the country in the ratings section to automatically apply the appropriate content ratings for that region)
    2. Music and podcasts
    3. Movies
    4. TV Shows
    5. Books
    6. Apps
    7. In-app purchases
    8. The time necessary before a password is required to purchase content through the App Store or iTunes
  3. Changes to Privacy settings including:
    1. Location Services
    2. Contacts
    3. Calendars
    4. Reminders
    5. Photos
    6. Bluetooth sharing
    7. Twitter
    8. Facebook
  4. Changes to the following settings and accounts:
    1. Accounts (Accounts (disables changes to Mail, Contacts, Calendars, iCloud, and Twitter accounts)
    2. Find My Friends3
    3. Volume limit
  5. Features within Game Center
    1. Multiplayer games
    2. Adding friends

How to Enable Restrictions on iOS Devices

You can enable or adjust Restrictions or on your device to prevent access to specific features or content on the device.  By following these simple steps:

  1. Tap on the Settings app (it is normally on your home screen)
     iOS Settings App
  2. Once you have clicked on Settings, you can find the Restrictions by clicking on General and then Restrictions.
      
  3. Choose the restrictions you wish to enable or disable.

 

Links for further reading and information: 

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4213 Apple's support article for understanding how to enable or adjust restrictions.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3582 How to restore a missing Camera or Safari application on the iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5492 iBooks and iBookstore parental controls

Did you know?

Apple's mobile operating system, which is the software that runs each mobile device is called iOS.  Apple adds the version number of its operating system after "iOS".  So, you will see that your device is running version 5  of the operating system as iOS5; version 6 will be listed as iOS6, etc.

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