Take Control of FaceTime and Messages, 3rd Edition

Block Bozos and Spam

I expect Thomas A. Watson’s second call, the one after Alexander Graham Bell rang to say, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you,” was a scammer trying to get Bell to invest in Suez Canal bonds.

Apple includes a few tools to help you block people you don’t want to hear from for whatever reason, while also allowing third parties to assist through apps. The company could still up its game substantially further than it has to reduce exposure to abuse, spam, and scams.

Block Incoming Parties

Apple’s controls for blocking unwanted contact aren’t very sophisticated. There’s effectively a global, iCloud-synced blocklist that you can add to, edit, and view across FaceTime, Messages, and Phone.

The list includes both phone numbers ...