Handling security

Because you are likely to take your iPad on the road on a regular basis, it's a good idea to consider a few security features. Some save battery life and protect your data or access to certain apps.

Security settings involve three features which you access through the General settings:

• Auto-Lock: Turns your display off to save battery power. You can set the amount of time you'd like to expire before Auto-Lock locks your iPad.
• Passcode Lock: Assigns a password to the Lock screen. You can set a passcode, turn it on or off, change the passcode, and set the time interval at which your passcode is required. This is useful if you don't want to bother with a passcode for only brief periods of locking your iPad. Finally, you can use the Erase Data After Ten Failed Passcode Attempts setting so that multiple failed attempts to access your device results in your iPad erasing all data on it. This could protect, for example, your contacts' information or map data that shows your location from prying eyes. Note that if Simple Passcode is turned on you're limited to a four character passcode.
• Restrictions: Allows you to restrict access to certain apps and content using a passcode. This is useful if you don't want your kids to access a particularly adult app or simply don't want them browsing with Safari or buying things with iTunes, for example.

If you forget a passcode, the only thing to do is restore iPad software, which can be a headache. The big advice here: don't forget your passcode!

Setting the date and time

By default, your iPad is set to Cupertino time - Cupertino, California, that is, home to Apple Computer. If you have occasion to reset the time zone or date and time, either because you live somewhere other than Apple headquarters or you travel around with your iPad, here's how you control the time setting on your iPad.

1. Tap the Settings icon on the Home screen.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Date & Time.
   
   The settings, for example. Do any of the following:
   • Tap the Off button to turn 24-hour time on. This is military time, so that 2 p.m. is 14:00, and so on.
   • Tap Time Zone, and a text entry field displays along with your onscreen keyboard. Press the Delete key to delete Cupertino, and type your location. (If you type a major city near you, it will come up on a list as you type, and you can just tap to select it.)
   • Tap Set Date & Time, and the Date & Time dialog appears. Here you can tap the date and use a spinner to choose a different date; or tap the time and flick the spinner to change the time.