Apple has issued a direct appeal to millions of iPhone users across the UK, urging them to activate a vital security setting immediately to combat the growing nuisance of spam and scam calls.
How to Shield Your iPhone from Unwanted Calls
The tech giant is advising customers to utilise the built-in Silence Unknown Callers feature, available on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. This tool automatically mutes calls from numbers not saved in your contacts, recent outgoing calls list, or numbers Siri detects in your emails or messages.
According to Apple Support UK, when activated, the feature sends unknown callers straight to voicemail and logs them in your recent calls list without your phone ringing. "If you’ve previously texted someone using their phone number or if a person has shared their phone number with you in an email, a phone call from that number will go through," the company clarifies.
Apple also issued a crucial reminder: users should save all important numbers to their contacts before switching the feature on to avoid missing desired calls. The function is temporarily disabled for 24 hours after placing an emergency call.
Step-by-Step Activation Guide
Enabling the protection is a straightforward process:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll and tap on Phone.
- Find and select Silence Unknown Callers.
- Tap the toggle to turn the feature on.
Alternative Protection with Third-Party Apps
For those seeking an additional layer of defence, Apple recommends downloading reputable spam detection applications from the App Store. These apps can identify and label potential spam calls in real-time.
To integrate these apps with your iPhone's calling system:
- Go to Settings > Phone > Call Blocking & Identification.
- Under Call Identification Apps, turn on your downloaded apps.
- You can reorder the apps by priority by tapping 'Edit'.
When a call arrives, iOS cross-references the number with the app's spam databases. If a match is found, your screen will display labels like "Spam" or "Telemarketing". Some apps can even block these calls automatically. Apple assures that data from incoming calls is never shared with third-party developers.
A Warning for All Ages
The advice comes with an important warning from security experts: scam calls are not exclusively targeted at older generations. Younger iPhone users should not assume they are immune and are encouraged to take these protective steps. Anyone can manually block a number, adding it to their Blocked Contacts list for good.
With spam calls remaining a persistent issue, taking a few minutes to adjust these settings today can provide significant peace of mind and enhanced security for your device.
