The iPhone is packed with security features that make theft less interesting. But there is one weak point: the access code. If someone looks over your shoulder and snatches the iPhone from your hand, your digital life is on the street. 
Gonny van der Zwaag | iCulture.nl – 25 February 2023, 10:24 whatsappfacebooktwittertelegramlinkedinmailprint
Passcode is the key to everything on your iPhone
The Wall Street Journal reported on access code abuse. Nearly all of the victims they spoke to said their iPhone was stolen while going out or while socializing in a bar. Some people had their iPhone snatched from their hands, while others were physically threatened to hand over their iPhone. In all cases, the thief had the access code.
While you usually make some effort to prevent viewing the code when using an ATM, this is often not the case with iPhones. People enter their access code in front of others. But therein lies the danger. If the thief knows the passcode, the Apple ID can be changed, you can turn off the Find My feature, remove trusted phone numbers and devices, leaving the victim unable to do anything.
The thief can also change the contact information and create a recovery code to prevent the actual owner from still having access to the Apple ID. To make matters worse, the iPhone passcode lets you use Apple Pay, access banking apps, and retrieve passwords from iCloud. The thief can set a new face for Face ID and much more. If you have photos of your passport in your camera roll, a thief can even apply for credit cards, open a bank account and conclude contracts.
The Wall Street Journal believes that Apple should introduce extra security steps in iOS to prevent thieves from using your Apple ID. There is a downside to this: it makes it more difficult for users who regularly forget their access codes and passwords to use an iPhone.
Apple's response: we take it seriously
Apple has issued a statement through a spokesperson. In it, the company first pats itself on the back, and then promises to always work on security:
Security researchers agree that iPhone is the most secure consumer mobile device, and we work tirelessly every day to protect all our users from new and emerging threats. We sympathize with users who have had this experience and we take all attacks on our users very seriously, no matter how rare. We will continue to advance the protections to help keep user accounts secure.
Apple did not provide details on what will be done about this issue.
How can you protect yourself?
An important tip that you can deduce from the story above is not to enter access codes in public places where there are many people. Use Face ID or Touch ID instead, or wait until you're in a place where people can't look over your shoulder.
Another tip is to replace your four-digit passcode with a longer alphanumeric code, which is less easy to view. You do this via Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change access code.
See also 
How to make your iPhone passcode more secure with a complex alphanumeric code
You can make the iPhone passcode more secure by using a longer passcode with numbers, letters and special characters. Such an alphanumeric code is more difficult to guess.
For apps from your bank, use a different passcode than the passcode you use for the device and disable Face ID. It is also always wise to store your passwords in a password manager such as 1Password. The access code must of course also be unique and difficult to guess.
The iPhone is relatively well secured
It is good to realize that an iPhone is quite well protected compared to everyday objects . If someone steals your house key or car key, this person can also gain access to your belongings without an access code. And if you let someone watch you while using the ATM, a debit card is soó rolled. The fact that your iPhone has biometric access by scanning your face or fingerprint makes it just that little bit more secure because you can't just steal these unique features. If you handle your iPhone wisely and follow a few basic rules and precautions, you'll be safe.
Unfortunately, the only thing you can't do much about is when someone holds a gun to your head and tries to take your iPhone with the passcode.