[Macworld]

Post your comments for Six essential Apple iPhone security tips here

[drword563]

Reminder: all of this applies not only to the iPhone, but to the iPod Touch

[jwnola]

Also a VPN is a good idea if you have to use an unsecured Wi-Fi access point with your laptop or iPhone. I use Witopia. It's well worth the $40/year if you have to use networks without encryption in areas like airports, hotels or coffee shops.

[bookrats]

Your description of the "Ask to Join Networks" option differs (I believe) from Apple's description on their support site, at:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1355
If I read this correctly, switching "Ask to Join Networks" to Off requires you to join Wi-Fi networks manually. And thus, no unknown Wi-Fi networks would be automatically connected to -- unless you manually connect to them.
Is this correct? And wouldn't switching this option to "Off" be more secure?
Thanks!

[jwnola]

Yes. You are correct in your understanding of how this works, and it is more secure to select "Off" for this option as you will have to manually join any networks that you have not previously joined.

I've found a problem with this though if you ever join a network with a common name like "linksys". Every time you pass a network with that same name (and there are thousands), your iPhone will automatically join that network. I've had this problem while driving down the street (while someone else is driving) and had problems with my internet connection. I've found that the phone automatically joined one of these networks.

[bookrats]

Thanks for the clarification -- much obliged!

[batchtaster]

... and every other mobile WiFi device. iPhone and iPod touch are not inherently any more insecure, it's just nice to be able to use the word "iPhone" in a headline, as it gets attention.

[nelmum]

hi i just got a problem with my iphone. it just blackout & does not want to take charge or reponse to the switch on. i dont know what to do to activate it. please i need help

[Druce]

A couple of good hints I have learn

a) There is a new free VPN service at http://www.itshidden.com It was originally targeted to hide the tracks of bittorrent users, but it works equally as well for any web surfing. It is a little slow, but for web browsing it is perfectly fine. Just dont try and download any albums off of iTunes.

I get paranoid about redirectors and phishing sites. Thats why I use a content-filtering web browser on my iPhone that checks to make sure the server at the other end isn't a known malicious site. There are several out there, but I have had good luck with SafetyNet (http://www.tinyurl.com/fortiphone is the iTunes link, or you can search for SafetyNet on the app store).