Apple Explores Auto-Adjusting Security and Other Settings Based on Device Location

[DMinTX]

One simple little thing my iPaq phone could do years ago is to have an an option to automatically go into silent (Do Not Disturb for iOS) when my calendar had an appointment that was set as busy.

I still miss that...

 

[Windlasher]

That's quite a convoluted scenario. But ok, I see your point.

So with your Touch ID - what happens if you're mowing the lawn, drop your iPhone and then as you reach down, chop off all your fingers? Whilst you're in hospital, amongst the long grass, a man who has inadvertendly found himself in your private garden, finds your phone and one of your fingers and... BAM! He's in your iPhone with access to all your stuff.

Your bank account is empty within minutes, your wife leaves you and you're homeless.

Not saying Touch ID is a bad thing, but I don't mind simply being careful to be aware where my phone is and not drop it and let others get to it. It's be sixteen years so far and I've not lost it yet.

- Touche...... lil -

EDIT: Please don't tell me you are talking about THE SAME - phone for 16 years? Id lose that one on purpose.

 

[bairdamien]

old.

We did this in 2011. pretty sure it counts as prior art.

http://bluepointsecurity.com/presentationlayer/pages/enterpriseeditionmdm.aspx

 

[2984839]

The only people I wish Apple would provide security to protect their users from at this point are the people actively compromising our hardware, software, and networks to illegally keep tabs on us, for any reason they desire, without our consent or even knowledge.

There ARE real threats to security these things pose. 15 year olds phishing for credit card numbers doesn't even compare to losing your civil rights & protections and being falsely accused and imprisoned. But what am I saying, that never happens...

I agree with that, but if it works as it sounds like it will, this feature would significantly hurt that kind of security effort. Let's say your phone is seized and you have it encrypted, but with this auto-adjust feature turned on.

Right now in the US, you cannot be compelled to give up a password, so simply forcing you to tell them the password is illegal. You can be compelled to give up fingerprints, making the Touch ID feature worthless in this scenario unless it is combined with a passcode. Now, if it was combined with a passcode, but the police could simply drive to your house with it and it would unlock itself, you would have no protection.

This feature approaches the security problem the wrong way. We don't need security that's easy to turn off; we need security that doesn't need to be turned off because it's transparent and not cumbersome to use.

 

[techwhiz]

Surely this can't be granted? I had this on my Nokia N8 back in 2010 or 2011.

Available on Android with an app called "tasker".
I initially unlock my phone based on being in my car and attached to BT and my GPS location.

I also unlock based on my headset being connected or other wifi location and trusted devices.

Plenty of prior art and use. Should not be granted.

 

[Zxxv]

So if I find or steal a passcode locked phone, I can spoof a celltower and wifi network near the area where the owner lives and it will think it's home and remove the protection? Or if I steal it from an owner's house (or from the owner directly nearby his house) I can get into the phone without a passcode?

Seems like a pointless and bad idea. Rather than changing security settings, they should focus on making security more user friendly so it can be on all the time without being a hindrance. TouchID is a good start.

you can do that but you'll still have to put your passcode in the first time it notices its back in a safe place. see how it works 😉

 

[zipa]

We did this in 2011. pretty sure it counts as prior art.

http://bluepointsecurity.com/presentationlayer/pages/enterpriseeditionmdm.aspx

Available on Android with an app called "tasker".
I initially unlock my phone based on being in my car and attached to BT and my GPS location.

I also unlock based on my headset being connected or other wifi location and trusted devices.

Plenty of prior art and use. Should not be granted.

Yes, the article makes it sound like they are trying to patent a "slightly spherical rock" and calling it "the wheel". Which makes me think that the ones responsible for the article have messed something up and that there must be more to this. Clearly it shouldn't take even the busiest patent officials two years to notice something as blatantly obvious as this?

 

[captain kaos]

It's a good idea but I hope it's an option. I wouldn't want visitors to be able to "bypass" security just because the device happens to be home.

What sort of "visitors" do you get!

 

[Yvan256]

What sort of "visitors" do you get!

 

[Tech198]

This could be a good patent..

Users won't need to fiddle with their settings just to get on hotspots.

However, manual is always better so users actually know the correct settings have been applied, not what Apple thinks should be from their point of view..

What Apple thinks about security, and what I think is not always the same from a security standpoint, even if it means more convenience....

Regards of any security, i always double check myself....