Your iPhone 6s Plus data isn't secure unless you take these four critical steps to protect your identity, financial accounts, and personal photos.

Contrary to what you might have read elsewhere, wiping your iPhone 6s Plus data requires more than a simple factory reset. In fact, there are four critical steps you need to take to protect your identity, financial and social accounts, and wipe your personal photos and files. Here's how to truly erase your iPhone 6s Plus so you can safely sell it.

STEP 1: Turn off iMessage and FaceTime (optional)

If you're switching to another iPhone, you can skip this step; however, if you are moving to Android or another OS, you'll need to deregister iMessage and FaceTime. Here's how.

• Browse to SETTINGS > MESSAGES and turn iMessage off
• Browse to SETTINGS > FACETIME and turn FaceTime off

STEP 2: Delete credit cards from Safari

In step three you'll delete credit card numbers from your device, but they could still be stored in the Safari browser. Be sure to delete them first.

• Browse to SETTINGS > SAFARI > AUTOFILL > CREDIT CARDS
• Remove any stored credit cards

STEP 3: Erase your iPhone 6s Plus

This is the well-known factory reset, which does most of the heavy-lifting. It disables Activation Lock and Find My iPhone, removes ApplePay and Wallet credit cards, deletes Touch ID fingerprint impressions, erases data (technically, it hides it from the OS behind encryption only accessible via your passcode until the data is overwritten by a new user), and returns all settings to factory defaults.

• Browse to SETTINGS > GENERAL > RESET
• Select ERASE ALL CONTENT AND SETTINGS
• Enter your passcode
• Select ERASE IPHONE
• Enter your iCloud passcode
• Select ERASE
• Remove your SIM card

STEP 4: Disconnect iCloud, iTunes in the Cloud, and Apple ID

Your iPhone 6s Plus is now ready to sell, but it's possible cloud services can still try to reach your device unless you manually disconnect them.

Disconnect iCloud

• Sign in to iCloud and browse to ACCOUNT DETAILS
• Find your iPhone 6s Plus under DEVICES and remove it

Disconnect iTunes in the Cloud

• Launch iTunes and browse to your account
• Find ITUNES IN THE CLOUD and click MANAGE DEVICES
• Locate your iPhone 6s Plus on the list, then click REMOVE

Disconnect your Apple ID

• Log in to your Apple ID account
• Browse to PASSWORD AND SECURITY > ADD OR REMOVE TRUSTED DEVICES
• Find your iPhone 6s Plus on the list, then click REMOVE

Once you've completed all four steps, you can safely sell your iPhone 6s Plus!