iOS 9 Updates & Features: Apple’s Latest OS Version Now Requires 6-Digit Alphanumeric Passcode

iOS

Apple has officially unveiled the iOS 9 during the keynote address of this year's Worldwide Developers Conference tech event.

As one of its features, the Cupertino-based company has upgraded the OS' passcode to require a combination of six alphanumeric characters, according to Phone Arena.

This is considered as a significant improvement over the previous iOS version's 4-digit pin code.

Although some may think that the additional two characters will not do much in terms of security, it will give thieves and unauthorized users a harder time accessing Apple devices.

According to Apple, by upgrading the passcode requirement from four to six digits, the number of combinations needed to access a device also jumped from 10,000 to about a million.

"The passcodes you use on your Touch ID-enabled iPhone and iPad will now have six digits instead of four," Apple explained in the iOS 9 website.

"If you use Touch ID, it's a change you'll hardly notice," the company continued. "But with one million possible combinations - instead of 10,000 - your passcode will be a lot tougher to crack."

As mentioned by Apple, the new passcode configuration for the iOS 9 will only be available to devices with Touch ID. These include the iPad Mini 3, iPad Air 2, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

The new 6-digit passcode is only one of the new security features included in the latest version of Apple's OS. Another feature is the iOS 9's two-factor authentication process.

Even after entering their passcode, users will be asked to type in another verification code whenever they use another device or sign in from a new browser.

Through these new features, Apple is aiming to keep users and their important files, documents and photos more secure when they use their devices.

The iOS 9 is expected to be released to the public sometime in September or October of this year.