Online security has never been more important. If you’re making purchases or winning money from playing the best online pokies, for example, you’ll want your funds to be protected. The last thing an Apple user wants is for their Apple ID to be compromised. If someone gets hold of this and the password linked to it, they can do all sorts of damage to their iCloud files and lots of other things.

For starters, they could access everything in your iCloud account, including anything personal or valuable. Fortunately, security software is incredibly advanced and there are quick and easy ways to keep on track of who’s using your Apple ID.

Securing Your Apple ID

Before you start checking where your Apple ID is being used, you should secure it to minimize the risk of someone accessing it. A single Apple ID can be used across many devices and websites, and for a broad range of purposes; accessing your iCloud is one of them. Therefore, it’s very important that you take the necessary steps to secure yours.

• Make sure you’re the only person who knows the password for your account; change it if necessary. Create a password that you don’t use for any other account and don’t share it with anyone.
• Enable two-factor authentication. This is an extra layer of security that protects your account even if someone knows your Apple ID and password. With two-factor authentication, when you try to log in on a device for the first time, your trusted devices will display a verification code that you’ll have to enter in order to log in on the new device.

Check your device’s user guide for further details on making it more secure. The guide should have all the helpful information you’ll need to give your device and iCloud account the best possible protection.

How to Tell if Your Apple ID Has Been Compromised

Below is a list of things that may indicate someone else has access to your Apple ID. If any of them applies to you, you should try to find out where your Apple ID is being used (this is covered in the next section). Be aware that even if none of the points below applies to you, someone could still have gained access to your Apple ID. Therefore, it’s a good idea to always be alert and look out for signs of trouble.

• You’re notified that someone has used your Apple ID on a device that you don’t recognize.
• You receive a notification that account details have been changed, though you don’t remember changing them.
• Files in your iCloud have been deleted or changed.
• Your password has been changed without you knowing about it.
• Your account has been placed in Lost Mode or locked.
• There are charges on your account for purchases you didn’t make.

Be sure to see the Apple support section and get in touch if you have any concerns or questions. Even though you may use your iCloud as your primary online storage option, it’s a good idea to back everything up once in a while.

Download copies of your most important files and store them in multiple places if possible. This way, if your iCloud does get hacked, at least the damage will be reduced somewhat.

Checking Where Your Apple ID Is Being Used

If you’ve established that someone has gained access to your Apple account, you’ll no doubt be asking yourself, ‘Where is my Apple ID being used?’. It could be used on devices other than your own and whoever has your details could make purchases from the App Store, access your iCloud documents, and more.

Your Apple ID device list is a list of devices that you have signed in to using your Apple ID. You can check this to see if any of your devices have been accessed with your Apple ID by someone else. To do this on your phone, follow the steps below:

• Click ‘Settings’.
• Click your name at the top.
• Scroll down until you see a list of devices near the bottom.

Click on any of the devices to see information about it, though be aware you may need to answer a security question to do so. The list will show you all devices that you’re logged in on with your Apple ID. Simply look through the devices one at a time and it should become clear which ones, if any, are being used without your knowledge.

If someone has gained access to your Apple ID, be sure to contact Apple’s customer support for advice on what to do next. In the meantime, change your password and check your iCloud and anything else that may have been compromised.

Apple takes the safety of its users very seriously, so if you get in touch with them, you should find that they’ll help you out as soon as possible. That is one of the main reasons to make playing games on Apple devices so popular.

Conclusion

If you have any concerns with Apple devices or your iCloud, the best approach is to take action immediately. Follow the steps above and if you’re no further forward, check online for a user guide or see the Apple support section for more information.

Make a few simple changes to give your Apple ID, iCloud, and everything else the protection they deserve. You definitely don’t want your iCloud being accessed by a stranger, so do your best to keep it safe.