Why Putting Your ID on an iPhone Can Be Unsafe – Knowligent
Why Putting Your ID on an iPhone Can Be Unsafe

Why Putting Your ID on an iPhone Can Be Unsafe

HomeHow to, TechWhy Putting Your ID on an iPhone Can Be Unsafe

You'll soon be able to store your ID on an iPhone, but the move has some privacy experts puzzled.

Apple Data Protection – The Ugly Truth

Apple has announced a new feature that will let users scan and store their driver’s licenses on their iPhones, using them as a valid form of identification. It’s part of an ongoing effort to make iPhones a one-stop shop for everything from credit card information to movie tickets. Putting government documents on your phone, however, is different.

“The most immediate security risk is that losing your iPhone becomes more like losing your physical wallet, and someone who steals or recovers your lost iPhone now has access to your driver’s license,” Christopher Budd, a senior threat communications manager at cybersecurity firm Avast, said in an email interview. “Another risk is that malware that gains access to Apple Wallet could also gain access to the driver’s license stored there.”

Apple says the new ID feature will help you get through security at airports and other places more quickly. The company is working with state authorities and the Transportation Security Administration on the plan, and it's expected to launch with iOS 15 this fall.