Experts issue urgent warning to turn off default iPhone setting that could give hackers your personal information

The National Security Agency (NSA) has warned iPhone users to turn off one default setting that could put them at risk of being targeted by hackers.

No matter where we are in the world, we usually expect to be connected. We want to receive messages, flick through social media and Google who that celebrity from that one movie was, and the best way to do that is with a Wi-Fi connection.

Even if your data is struggling, Wi-Fi can ensure you have the world at your fingertips - but connecting to certain Wi-Fi networks comes with its risks.

We all want to stay connected when we're out and about (Getty Stock Image)

It's not too surprising to learn that public networks aren't as secure as private ones, but what you might not know is that iPhones have a feature that can hook you up to public Wi-Fi even if you don't actively seek to join it.

Known as 'auto-join', iOS will start by searching for the most preferred network, followed by private networks, then public networks, Apple explains.

Going into more detail on public networks, Apple said they're those which are 'designed for general access in public places, such as a hotel, airport or coffee shop'.

This might sound convenient if you're in desperate need of an internet connection, but being automatically connected could mean that you end up in the hands of a hacker.

The NSA has issued warnings to explain that hackers might set up networks to look like something safe, for example a restaurant or hotel, then 'employ malicious access points redirecting to malicious websites, injecting malicious proxies, and eavesdropping on network traffic'.

Hackers are able to intercept public Wi-Fi networks (Getty Stock Image)

The agency described these networks as an 'evil twin', saying they 'mimic the nearby expected public Wi-Fi, resulting in that actor having access to all data sent over the network'.

“The risk is not merely theoretical,” the NSA says. “Malicious techniques are publicly known and in use.”

If hackers are able to gain access to your phone, they also have the ability to steal identifying information and data.

How to disable Wi-Fi auto-connect

To avoid this risk, iPhone users are advised to disable the auto-connect feature by going to Settings > Wi-Fi.

There, you can find 'Ask to Join Networks', and click 'Off' or 'Ask' . When it comes to 'Auto-Join Hotspot', you should select 'Never'.

“If users choose to connect to public Wi-Fi, they must take precautions," the NSA says. “Data sent over public Wi-Fi - especially open public Wi-Fi that does not require a password to access - is vulnerable to theft or manipulation. Even if a public Wi-Fi network requires a password, it might not encrypt traffic going over it.”

To help keep yourself extra safe, keep an eye out for padlocks on your browser's URL - this will ensure your web browsing is encrypted - and avoid inputting any of your credentials onto popups or familiar websites that appear unexpectedly.