How to Set a Good Password for Your iPhone

There's no doubt that the technology made available to us through smart phones and Apple's iPhone keeps us more in touch with the world.  But there's a problem when the world wants to be more in touch with our iPhones, if you know what I mean.  Identity theft is a major issue in this paperless age of ours, and if you want to make sure that your iPhone is protected, it starts with a good password.

First, you'll actually want to turn the password feature on your iPhone on.  It can be a little obtrusive, but if you turn this feature on and forget about it, soon it will simply become a part of routine that you don't notice quite as much.  In order to turn the password feature on, you'll have to write a solid password.

Go to Settings > General > Security lock, as TUAW will tell you, and from there you'll be able to work on setting your passcode - but this isn't your password.  It's actually a passcode, a four-digit code you enter in, much like a PIN number.

It's fine to have a PIN number, but if you want to replace your password with a more traditional alphanumeric password (that is, using letters/numbers), then check out this guide from iPhone Download Blog.

After you follow the instructions in that blog post, you'll be able to set an alphanumeric password.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when you set your password.  Many people prefer to have their password something they'll easily remember, like a mother's maiden name or their favorite pet.  But having a simple, easy-to-remember password does put you at risk at someone being able to figure that password out and hack into your iPhone.

We recommend that you try to set a more difficult password, such as a random collection of letters and numbers.  This can be a little difficult to learn at first, but once you have this number memorize, you'll have it locked safely in your mind for a long time, that is until you change your password again.  At the very least, incorporate some numbers into a more traditional "word" password so that even people who know you well won't be able to figure it out.  If you're well-known for loving cats, then "cats" isn't a great password, but "cats14022" is much more difficult to figure out.