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iPhone Anyone tried to turn off Find My Phone?

morespce54

morespce54

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 30, 2004
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Anyone tried to turn off Find My Phone on iOS7, just for the kick of seeing that "super security magic" feature?
I know, it's pretty useless to try that, but I was kind of disapointed to find out that:

a) the message asking you to login with your Apple ID password (to disable the feature) is giving away my Apple ID login. I guess I'd rater enter both login and password manually for a added security layer.

b) the message is kind of screwed as it says something along:
You must enter your iCloud password for the account \n myappleid@icloudme.com
Click to expand...
(with a *nix new line character in front of my Apple ID).

It's no big deal but I hope this will be corrected in the next update (at least, the new line character).


What do you guys think about the message giving away your iCloud login? You think it's useful and a good idea for a security feature?
 
morespce54 said:
Anyone tried to turn off Find My Phone on iOS7, just for the kick of seeing that "super security magic" feature?
I know, it's pretty useless to try that, but I was kind of disapointed to find out that:

a) the message asking you to login with your Apple ID password (to disable the feature) is giving away my Apple ID login. I guess I'd rater enter both login and password manually for a added security layer.

b) the message is kind of screwed as it says something along: You must enter your iCloud password for the account \n myappleid@username (with a *nix new line character in front of my Apple ID).

It's no big deal but I hope this will be corrected in the next update (at least, the new line character).


What do you guys think about the message giving away your iCloud login?
Click to expand...

They can just go to the iCloud section and see your iCloud login, anyways.
 
Right... But I guess I wish these were not being easily available. Specially in that section.

Plus, not that it matter much for someone who wish to wipe your phone but, going to the iCloud section is still an extra step.
 
morespce54 said:
Right... But I guess I wish these were not being easily available. Specially in that section.

Plus, not that it matter much for someone who wish to wipe your phone but, going to the iCloud section is still an extra step.
Click to expand...

They still need your password, just make sure it's strong and you should be fine.

Also, a passcode lock on your phone. Apple gives you the tools, you just have to use them.
 
If someone steals your phone can they just turn it off to prevent you from using Find My iPhone?
 
morespce54 said:
What do you guys think about the message giving away your iCloud login? You think it's useful and a good idea for a security feature?
Click to expand...
It gives an honest person who finds it a chance to contact the owner in order to return it, and it's a great way to differentiate between different phones since they all look the same...

It's not "giving away" the iCloud login, it's a name tag with contact information.

AceMason said:
If someone steals your phone can they just turn it off to prevent you from using Find My iPhone?
Click to expand...
Yes. But if someone steals a phone, they probably won't want to have it turned off at all times...
 
AceMason said:
If someone steals your phone can they just turn it off to prevent you from using Find My iPhone?
Click to expand...

Yes. But as soon as it's turned on again, it's going to reach out to the cell network and if the owner of the phone had sent out a Lost Mode or Erase iPhone command, it'll implement that.

The thief can pop out the SIM card to prevent cell network connection, but with Activation Lock, nobody else except the original owner will be able to activate it for use, even with a new SIM, even if the owner erased all data.
 
elistan said:
Yes. But as soon as it's turned on again, it's going to reach out to the cell network and if the owner of the phone had sent out a Lost Mode or Erase iPhone command, it'll implement that.

The thief can pop out the SIM card to prevent cell network connection, but with Activation Lock, nobody else except the original owner will be able to activate it for use, even with a new SIM, even if the owner erased all data.
Click to expand...

That's pretty cool, so basically it's futile to steal iPhones now right?
 
hafr said:
It's not "giving away" the iCloud login, it's a name tag with contact information.
Click to expand...

Right, but it gives your email address and your email address is often your iCloud login. Now they only need to figure your iCloud password. I guess I would feel better if I/they needed to fill both instead of just the password (they don't even need to fill your email/icloud login which they know by now anyway).

Of course, they need to figure the phone passcode first and as mentioned earlier, once that is done, they could simply go to the iCloud pref pane and see your email address there.


Anyway, a good passcode and a good iCloud password should do it, I guess. It's just that I wish you (and only you) could disable Find my Phone (a la Impossible Mission) I mean, it could be a different password from your iCloud, one that would only be used for Find My Phone (but maybe it would be too much of a hassle for most people).
 
morespce54 said:
Right, but it gives your email address and your email address is often your iCloud login. Now they only need to figure your iCloud password. I guess I would feel better if I/they needed to fill both instead of just the password (they don't even need to fill your email/icloud login which they know by now anyway).

Of course, they need to figure the phone passcode first and as mentioned earlier, once that is done, they could simply go to the iCloud pref pane and see your email address there.


Anyway, a good passcode and a good iCloud password should do it, I guess. It's just that I wish you (and only you) could disable Find my Phone (a la Impossible Mission) I mean, it could be a different password from your iCloud, one that would only be used for Find My Phone (but maybe it would be too much of a hassle for most people).
Click to expand...
But dude, you're missing the positive aspects of it. Say the police gets their hand on your phone. Now they could just drop you an email, saying they've found your phone. Compare that to how difficult it would be for them to track you down if the address wasn't there. Or if I find it, I could email you instead of going to the police - who might not even try to contact you.

Just make sure to have a secure password for iCloud and you're golden.
 
A separate password only for a purpose you'll probably never, ever use? That would be a great way to ensure that people won't remember it when they need to.

That's pretty cool, so basically it's futile to steal iPhones now right?
Click to expand...
Not quite. Even aside from using it for parts, a thief can still do anything they could before, so long as they're able to act before the owner disables it. Depending on circumstances, they might have anywhere from minutes to days, with an hour or two far from unreasonable.
 
morespce54 said:
Right, but it gives your email address and your email address is often your iCloud login. Now they only need to figure your iCloud password. I guess I would feel better if I/they needed to fill both instead of just the password (they don't even need to fill your email/icloud login which they know by now anyway).

Of course, they need to figure the phone passcode first and as mentioned earlier, once that is done, they could simply go to the iCloud pref pane and see your email address there.


Anyway, a good passcode and a good iCloud password should do it, I guess. It's just that I wish you (and only you) could disable Find my Phone (a la Impossible Mission) I mean, it could be a different password from your iCloud, one that would only be used for Find My Phone (but maybe it would be too much of a hassle for most people).
Click to expand...

If you lose the phone, lock it via icloud.com Or even wipe it. When it comes back up after wiping, your email address is masked when prompted to activate.
 
Stuke00 said:
If you lose the phone, lock it via icloud.com Or even wipe it. When it comes back up after wiping, your email address is masked when prompted to activate.
Click to expand...

Great! Thanks. I didn't push the experiment that far...
Glad to know that once wiped, the email is masked. Feel better now!

hafr said:
But dude, you're missing the positive aspects of it. Say the police gets their hand on your phone. Now they could just drop you an email, saying they've found your phone. Compare that to how difficult it would be for them to track you down if the address wasn't there. Or if I find it, I could email you instead of going to the police - who might not even try to contact you.

Just make sure to have a secure password for iCloud and you're golden.
Click to expand...

I know, but to be honest, around here, not much cop would even take the time to look up your email address, even less to send you an email to let you know they found your phone! ;)
 
Curious -

What if you lost your iPhone and someone DFU restores it before you even realise?

Does the iCloud security feature still kick in or not?
 
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