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Wouldn't It Be Nice....
- Thread starter Squilly
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Similar, I guess. But someone could "snatch" it when it's unlocked but has location services enabled.
Beeplance
macrumors 68000
If I stole your phone, I would
-Take out your SIM card and discard it in the nearest dustbin
-Turn off your phone
-Go home and restore the phone in iTunes
-Unlock the phone if it isn't
-Start using the phone with my own SIM card
What's the chance of your phone being stolen when its unlocked? Usually people don't leave their phones unattended, and if they do, they lock iOS first.
faroZ06
macrumors 68040
It's called "Restrictions". It's already part of iOS. The problem is that it doesn't ask you for your password when an app wants to use the location services but rather avoids changing any settings, so new apps cannot use the location services.
I have Restrictions enabled so that Find My iPhone cannot be disabled. The thief can always turn the iPhone off or remove the SIM card, but iPhone thieves are usually the kind of people you'd want to shoot for being so stupid, so they might not do that. In fact, NOT having a passcode lock may help because the thief would not consider wiping the phone to gain access if access is already granted.
Think about it; if you steal an iPhone that you can't get into, you're going to Google "how to break passcode on iPhone" and restore it. If you steal an iPhone that you can use that is secretly being tracked, you might just leave it as it is.
I have Restrictions enabled so that Find My iPhone cannot be disabled. The thief can always turn the iPhone off or remove the SIM card, but iPhone thieves are usually the kind of people you'd want to shoot for being so stupid, so they might not do that. In fact, NOT having a passcode lock may help because the thief would not consider wiping the phone to gain access if access is already granted.
Think about it; if you steal an iPhone that you can't get into, you're going to Google "how to break passcode on iPhone" and restore it. If you steal an iPhone that you can use that is secretly being tracked, you might just leave it as it is.
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Beeplance
macrumors 68000
Precisely what I first thought when I saw his second post. Normally people leave their phone LOCKED (typo) after they use it.
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faroZ06
macrumors 68040
Guess I'm one of the few that relocks their phone when I'm around certain people, even after a text.
CosmoPilot
macrumors 68000
Wirelessly posted
I thought I read somewhere not to long ago that Apple & the carriers were creaking down on cellphone thiefs by locking out the IMEI number. Anyone else heard this? If true, just report it stolen and the thief will not be able to use it.
I thought I read somewhere not to long ago that Apple & the carriers were creaking down on cellphone thiefs by locking out the IMEI number. Anyone else heard this? If true, just report it stolen and the thief will not be able to use it.
blueroom
macrumors 603
That's the only real fix. Can't see the carriers doing it on their own accord as their business is the phone plan, not the phone. Every stolen phone is just another unsubsidized new customer 😉
Beeplance
macrumors 68000
You never know... 😀
Not sure about the IMEI thingy though. I think most people aren't aware they can do that?
MattInOz
macrumors 68030
Funny thing around here our carriers promise every couple of years to start cracking down on Mobile phone theft by locking stolen phones. It's like there is a standard press release that gets handed out as soon as the media asks about rising mobile phone theft.
cyks
macrumors 68020
Beeplance
macrumors 68000
faroZ06
macrumors 68040
That would also involve getting rid of the force-shutdown feature, which would be bad. Before I knew about forcing shutdown on an iPhone, my iPhone 1 crashed, and I had to wait for the battery to die to make it turn off.
I doubt most people lock their phones - most people I know don't.
Most stolen phones are probably used for a couple of hours and thrown away or sold again I think. I'll bet very few thiefs search stolen phones for important information - maybe for nude pictures they can share.
Thiefs are rarely as technically competent or smart as TV/Movies make them out to be.
Other than the cost of replacing the phone and the inconvienience I'm not sure I really care. Anyone who keeps really critical on a device like an iPhone is looking for trouble. Phones are probably the most lost devices in the world.
Most stolen phones are probably used for a couple of hours and thrown away or sold again I think. I'll bet very few thiefs search stolen phones for important information - maybe for nude pictures they can share.
Thiefs are rarely as technically competent or smart as TV/Movies make them out to be.
Other than the cost of replacing the phone and the inconvienience I'm not sure I really care. Anyone who keeps really critical on a device like an iPhone is looking for trouble. Phones are probably the most lost devices in the world.
