Moreover, contact information being accessed is not the only issue iPhone owners have to deal with, as they will not only be facing Apple itself, but the app development companies that get this phone book information.  For example, the popular app Path was discovered to be getting phone book information of all its users in order to enhance their “find friends” feature. Path has changed its methods since what they did became public, but it is not alone.  According to some reports, 13 out of 15 iOS app developers with feature that allows users to “find friends” also admit to uploading user contacts. 

 

While this is quite alarming indeed, Apple is hoping you won’t be one of those thinking of selling an iPhone because of these security loopholes.  Before getting frustrated and throw your iPhone in fear that your personal information will be publicly divulged, hold your horses.  If you have to sell your broken iPhone in the future, here’s hoping it won’t be because you have smashed your phone into smithereens.  Besides, there are a number of ways that you yourself can beef up the security of your iPhone.  Whether related to apps or not, you can take the security of information on your iPhone in your own hands.

 

If you have an old iPhone (first generation or iPhone 3G) chances are, its operating system is already vulnerable.  If you continually use this firmware, your iPhone may have more vulnerability in security.  Don’t think you must sell your broken iPhone already, because the phone is not really broken in the first place.  You can still update the iOS firmware of your iPhone, making it more secure.  

 

Your iPhone will also be further secured if you enable passcode protection.  Every time you wake your Android from sleep, you will be asked for a passcode that has 4 digits.  Your phone will be protected from being used by other people, but you have to make sure that your passcode is not easily guessable.  

 

Disabling automatic network association is also a smart way to increase the security of your iPhone.  WiFi networks are easy to spoof, and can be used by information hackers to get into your phone.  Thus, once you are done using a certain network for WiFi, adjust your settings to forget these networks ASAP.  

As for mobile apps, make sure you are knowledgeable of the security settings of every app you have on your iPhone.  If you feel something is suspect about how an app solicits information from you, then ask friends who also have iPhones or look for forums on the Internet to see if other users feel the same way.

 

The Internet is also full of websites where you can sell your broken iPhone (hopefully not broken because of your frustration over its security settings).  Look into which website gives you the best offer and the most convenient way to sell your broken iPhone.