iOS 6 Fixes iMessage "Bug" that Sends Texts to Stolen iPhones

[Dopeyman]

I just changed my phone # earlier today and my girlfriend is still getting my iMessages from my previous #

[Rodimus Prime]

sorry but this took way to damn long to fix. after it was first reported Apple should of rushed out a patch to fix it.

[zorinlynx]

Anyone else find it absurd that Apple never even really acknowledged this problem, and didn't even mention the fact that it was fixed?

What does Apple have to gain from being so uncommunicative about security issues? I can understand keeping the latest new product under tight wraps, but this is stuff that, if not kept in the open... you start to wonder if they might have nefarious intentions.

[macsrcool1234]

Originally Posted by zorinlynx

Anyone else find it absurd that Apple never even really acknowledged this problem, and didn't even mention the fact that it was fixed?

What does Apple have to gain from being so uncommunicative about security issues? I can understand keeping the latest new product under tight wraps, but this is stuff that, if not kept in the open... you start to wonder if they might have nefarious intentions.

They trip head over heels to close jailbreak holes but take a year to handle urgent privacy concerns.

Hopefully this management shakeup will help things...

[SomeDudeAsking]

I laugh at the poor design of Apple software.

[aristotle]

Originally Posted by Rocketman

If the issue is logins for multiple services, have a login after stolen or wipes at an Apple server that enables all default features with cloud preferences.

Earth to Apple, please come in.

Your iDevice has been stolen and we have identified the location of the perps. What do you want to do?

1. Go there personally and kick their a$$.
2. Call the police and report it.
3. The police suck, call my cousin Sam and tell him to hold the forgiveness.
4. Send three hot chicks over to persuade them to cough it up.
5. Stop diddling. Send the Russian Mafia.

6. Really stop diddling. Send the Finnish Mafia.

Try googling for Finnish Mafia and you will find nothing. They are that well hidden. Their victims end up in a snow bank even if they are in Miami. That is part of their trademark.

[locust76]

In addition, wiping your iPhone remotely using Find My iPhone will now disable the stolen device from receiving iMessages.

The real question is: Why the hell didn't this happen before? You'd think a remote wipe would be just that, a WIPE to clear out all data and configuration. Not a "Wipe to delete some pictures and a few emails, but we'll leave the rest intact."

[The Phazer]

It would almost be funny if it wasn't our devices bing put at risk. Eleven months to do such a basic security fix, and the lack of transparency about it, is humiliating.

[Mike MA]

Seems logical when you read it, but I have to admit that this is not the first thought you're considering when developing an iOS.

[ncaissie]

I think Apple should build in a remote Taser. If someone steels your phone you can tase them every ½ hour.

[MrCubes]

Originally Posted by Dopeyman

I just changed my phone # earlier today and my girlfriend is still getting my iMessages from my previous #

Turn off iMessage (and Facetime - only necessary if that was also tied to the old number too - but may as well play it safe).
Reboot your iphone.
Leave iMessage disabled for a while - not sure how long - it just needs to trickle the SIM data into the OS. An hour should do it - if not leave it overnight.
Then turn iMessage back on and it should be associated with your new number.

[hamkor04]

Originally Posted by Shrink

Everyone??

Speak for yourself, please...

yes, he is almost right.
same here

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Originally Posted by MrCubes

Turn off iMessage (and Facetime - only necessary if that was also tied to the old number too - but may as well play it safe).
Reboot your iphone.
Leave iMessage disabled for a while - not sure how long - it just needs to trickle the SIM data into the OS. An hour should do it - if not leave it overnight.
Then turn iMessage back on and it should be associated with your new number.

what d h3ll is that, is it NASA instruction to lunch new rocket?

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Originally Posted by Dopeyman

I just changed my phone # earlier today and my girlfriend is still getting my iMessages from my previous #

last week got 4s (ios6) from someone, already All data Erased and clean as new, but I found his number in iMessages options, his number still was an option that would I want to receive imessages to this number.

[Nightarchaon]

Ahh, Apple, they never have bugs, security issues, or faulty hardware or software, at least they never ADMIT when they do and then do the hardest they can to cover it up.

Apples guys all used to work at area 51.. no aliens there.

[sirdir]

Same thing happened to a friend of mine. First unknown contacts startet to show up in his contact list, then even photos taken by the thief started showing up in his photo stream!
Not so funny was the fact that this might be working the other way around as well, i.e. the thief getting his photos/messages/contacts.

[jonnyb]

When are Apple going to introduce 'enter pass code to switch off', so that a thief can't simply turn your iPhone off to prevent you tracking it through Find my iPhone?

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by macsrcool1234

Wow. Only took one year and a plethora of iMessage downtimes to fix this gaping privacy hole.

it wasn't that big of a gaping hole. Before you just had to go and detach the device from your Apple ID by hand. Something that was discussed in depth when this 'bug' was found.

Now it is automatic. and potentially does it when you really don't need it to because you didn't change a device but just restored it.

[SilentLoner]

Originally Posted by jonnyb

When are Apple going to introduce 'enter pass code to switch off', so that a thief can't simply turn your iPhone off to prevent you tracking it through Find my iPhone?

Thats a great idea.

[charlituna]

Originally Posted by UmbraDiaboli

Stubborn Apple, they need to change this attitude - at least now when everyone is a bit sick of them overall...

EVERYONE? I think you mean you and you are the only person you should be speaking for given that there has been no election to name you the spokesperson for everyone in the world.

It's your right to your opinion and to speak your opinion. Not your right to declare your opinion universal and speak for everyone.

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Originally Posted by eicarr

I'm glad this make life easier for people including, those who steal iphones. But I would like it if I could press a button to blacklist any carrier from ever using my stolen iphone again, or a button that can turn my stolen iPhone into a brick.

Carriers aren't going to make it that easy to blacklist a phone as they will legally need to make sure the right person is behind the request. They don't want you calling and screaming cause I had your phone declared 'stolen' and blacklisted because we were dating and I caught you screwing my sister and wanted to get back at you (and as you paid more attention to your phone than me that was the best method).

Even just putting it behind a log in or password isn't so useful when folks are so careless about picking passwords, handing them out to family members or using 'keep logged in' options on the home computer.

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Originally Posted by Dopeyman

I just changed my phone # earlier today and my girlfriend is still getting my iMessages from my previous #

check her iMessages setting. is she logged into the same Apple ID as you. if so then her number was attached to that ID as is yours.

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Originally Posted by jonnyb

When are Apple going to introduce 'enter pass code to switch off', so that a thief can't simply turn your iPhone off to prevent you tracking it through Find my iPhone?

Likely never since its pointless. All a thief has to do is know how to bypass the code by throwing the phone into force recover mode. Same way that you can unbrick a phone that your kids screwed by banging on kids too many times. And they won't block entering force recovery by a 'thief' because of said latter need which probably happens more than phones getting stolen that actually have a passcode on them (more folks are walking around with no code than actually having one)

[jonnyb]

Originally Posted by charlituna

Likely never since its pointless. All a thief has to do is know how to bypass the code by throwing the phone into force recover mode. Same way that you can unbrick a phone that your kids screwed by banging on kids too many times. And they won't block entering force recovery by a 'thief' because of said latter need which probably happens more than phones getting stolen that actually have a passcode on them (more folks are walking around with no code than actually having one)

Surely it's about delaying that moment as long as possible so that the time you have to track is as great as possible?

How many opportunist thieves are going to know about DFU mode? Not many, I bet. There will be some cases where needing the pass code to turn off would work, so why not include the option?

I had an iPhone stolen and, along with the police, I was tracking it for a couple of hours before it disappeared completely. Maybe The police could have recovered it if I'd had a bit of extra time.

[Gix1k]

iPhone I found had this issue. I wiped it and before I turned it in to vzw, I was still get all the texts sent to it...sent as well....I started to keep it, the girl was sending some nice nakeds out.

[Steviejobz]

This is asinine. Why in the world cant they brick a phone that is stolen to prevent theft in the first place? The second a stolen phone tried to connect to a cellular / wifi network, it gets bricked and traced.

Or is Apple ok with this so those who get their stuff jacked have to go and buy a new device?

[haravikk]

Yay! So they finally fixed a glaring issue that never should have existed in the first place and seems to still be there behind the scenes, only hidden from view by an extra password check that shouldn't even really be needed.

[johan.k]

iMessage is struggling and getting irrelevant. Nah, WhatsApp!...

[Sacird]

Originally Posted by MacDav

No worries...I don't have a smartphone.

Same here. All the back and forth over a freaking phone choice didn't help me in wanting to keep a smartphone, just made me sad for the future. People's pathetic levels grew a few notches. What happened to guys not ever asking for directions? Now it's "I need my transit directions!!!" People know how to read the colored coded maps and which stop they will get off on still, right???

Least fist fights should go down in numbers with all guys wearing dresses.

[Tech198]

I'm suprised after a iMessages remote wipe.. One way would be not to connect, but then THAT would be too easy wouldn't it


And Apple says remote wipe "deletes everything security"


Obviously, not everything. Loppholes, Apple.... Loopholes.

Now, want about that "in-App" purchase hack that's STILL not patched. Some other things are far more important than lessor ones.