Apple released iOS 18.2 In December, more than a month after the technology company launched iOS 18.1. While iOS 18.2 introduces some new Apple Intelligence features, such as JinmojiFor some iPhones, Apple has introduced a highly requested security feature with iOS 17.2 In December 2023 it is called verification of the communication key. This tool aims to help verify that the person you’re messaging is who they are, and you can run it in just four steps.
Apple wrote in December 2022 By verifying the communication key, people who may find themselves in dangerous situations, such as journalists, activists and members of government organizations, can verify that they are sending messages to whom they intend to send them. While most people won’t find themselves targeted in this way, Apple wrote that the tool provides an important layer of security for those who might.
Read more: iOS 18 brings these new features to your iPhone
Here’s how to enable Check the connection key And how to use the new security feature. Note that both you and the person you’re messaging must enable this feature for it to work properly.
How to enable connection key verification
1. It opens Settings.
2. Click on your Apple ID (your name and photo) near the top of your screen.
3. handle Check the connection key Near the bottom of the list.
4. Press the adjacent key Verify in iMessage.
Next, you will see a splash screen that explains verifying the connection key. handle He continues On this screen.
You may be taken to another splash screen indicating that you need to update some of your devices to turn on the feature. You can either click Yes Then update devices, or you can click Remove devices in settings. You should probably update your devices even if you don’t plan to use call key verification.
Verify your identity and others
After enabling the feature, Check the connection key The menu will have a new option called Show public verification code. Tap on this new option and you’ll see a series of letters, numbers, and symbols. This code is how people verify that they are messaging you.
After that, press Copy the verification code below your code, and you’ll be able to paste your code wherever you want to share it, such as in a message or online. Now others can verify they’re messaging you, and if their code doesn’t match your online code, you’ll know you’re probably not talking to the right person.
Generate symbols in messages
You can also code with someone directly in Messages. This is a quick way for you and someone else to verify identities and devices simultaneously, but you and the other person need to enable connection key verification for this method to work.
If you both have the tool enabled, here’s how to create a code directly in messages.
1. It opens Messages.
2. Start a conversation with someone or tap the right conversation.
3. Click on the person’s name at the top of the conversation.
4. handle Verify contact Near the bottom of the list.
Then compare the six-digit codes generated on both devices. If the icons match, click Mark as verified, Then press to update On the next screen. Now that person’s contact card will have the icon associated with it, and a check mark will appear next to their name in messages.
If the icons do not match, click No match. You may not be communicating with the right person, and you should stop messaging them until you can verify their identity.
To learn more about iOS 18, here’s what to know iOS 18.2.1, iOS 18.2 And we have Cheat sheet for iOS 18. You can also check what could be coming to your iPhone iOS 18.3.
