Well they are two excellent examples and people are still asking why they've removed this...
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Apple Removes Tool to Check if an iPhone or iPad is Activation Locked
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I dont think so, they removed references to the page from their support site. They wouldnt have done that for something temporary.
This is going to make it a lot more difficult to sell/buy used iphones. Maybe they couldnt fix the exploit and figured its in their best interest to force people to trade in their phones only.
Apple is another repo company....probably taking back things that you once loved. Another anti consumerism method. I understand that Apple is a service company but something like this is disservice
Edit: as I read other previous post..looks like thieves could access it. Still they need to find alternative not remove it.
Edit: as I read other previous post..looks like thieves could access it. Still they need to find alternative not remove it.
Apple has removed its Activation Lock status checker on iCloud.com at some point in the past few days. The tool enabled users to enter the serial number or IMEI of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and find out if the device is secured with Activation Lock, helping buyers avoid purchasing a device locked to another user.
A user purchasing a used iPhone on eBay or another website, for example, was able to request the device's serial number and use Apple's tool to verify that Activation Lock had been turned off. If the device was still locked, or if the seller refused to provide the serial number, then it was likely lost or stolen.
The iCloud page where the tool was available now returns a "Not Found" page aka 404 error. Apple also removed the following reference to the tool from a related Find My iPhone support document earlier this week:Apple has not explained why it removed the page. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Activation Lock, enabled automatically when you turn on Find My iPhone, is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch if it is ever lost or stolen. A device with Activation Lock enabled requires the owner's Apple ID and password before it can be used, even if it is erased or reactivated.
Last year, a number of users who purchased a brand new iPhone experienced an Activation Lock issue where their device was locked to someone else's Apple ID. Apple disabled Activation Lock for affected users upon being provided proof of purchase, but it is unclear if the strange issue factored into the page's removal.
Activation Lock was introduced alongside iOS 7. The tool to check the Activation Lock status of a device had been available since October 2014.
Article Link: Apple Removes Tool to Check if an iPhone or iPad is Activation Locked
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Well, these threads would be a lot shorter and more informational if people would actually read the thread before blindly typing whatever ignorant, emotionally-motivated comment they they want to make and then smugly mashing the post button.
The fact that other apple sites which used to refer to the website no longer refer to it indicates that apple probably have no intention of putting the website back up.
Again, given that the site was being used as part of mass device theft operations, no, it probably will not be back anytime soon. Not without a more secure approach in place, and that could take some time to implement.
Trust me when I say providing proof of purchase and having it validated by Apple can be VERY challenging. I've seen many get denied.
[doublepost=1485721730][/doublepost]It's a very useful feature and I hope it returns. I wish Nest had such a feature on their Nest Cam...ours was stolen when we mailed it, and then we received an email from Nest weeks later saying that our Nest account for that cam had been disabled. Turns out the new "owner" re-registered and is currently using the cam. Nest refused to contact the new owner on our behalf to find out how they got our camera. Then, to add insult to injury, Nest won't even disable the camera, despite myself registering it and using it for two years, and having the receipt, because I can't provide "a photograph of the back of the camera showing the serial number". If only I were able to lock out the cam myself, at least I would have that satisfaction...
Apple has removed its Activation Lock status checker on iCloud.com at some point in the past few days. The tool enabled users to enter the serial number or IMEI of an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and find out if the device is secured with Activation Lock, helping buyers avoid purchasing a device locked to another user.
A user purchasing a used iPhone on eBay or another website, for example, was able to request the device's serial number and use Apple's tool to verify that Activation Lock had been turned off. If the device was still locked, or if the seller refused to provide the serial number, then it was likely lost or stolen.
The iCloud page where the tool was available now returns a "Not Found" page aka 404 error. Apple also removed the following reference to the tool from a related Find My iPhone support document earlier this week:Apple has not explained why it removed the page. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Activation Lock, enabled automatically when you turn on Find My iPhone, is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch if it is ever lost or stolen. A device with Activation Lock enabled requires the owner's Apple ID and password before it can be used, even if it is erased or reactivated.
Last year, a number of users who purchased a brand new iPhone experienced an Activation Lock issue where their device was locked to someone else's Apple ID. Apple disabled Activation Lock for affected users upon being provided proof of purchase, but it is unclear if the strange issue factored into the page's removal.
Activation Lock was introduced alongside iOS 7. The tool to check the Activation Lock status of a device had been available since October 2014.
Article Link: Apple Removes Tool to Check if an iPhone or iPad is Activation Locked
Once again *******s spoil a good thing for everyone else.
Apple gets money from the new user's app purchases and a share of the revenue generated by any Google searches in Safari.
I buy most of my Apple gear used. For phones I've just started meeting at the carrier's stores for verification before buying. Activation lock is only one of the issues you run into but people selling phones that haven't been paid off (and as such will seem perfectly legit at the time of purchase) and some other fun stuff.
For phones, always a carrier or Apple Store. For cellular iPads, same deal. If I can't connect it and activate it from my laptop, no buy. For laptops I check for EFI locks and ensure I can start a fresh install of macOS.
I wouldn't buy from eBay at this point. For things that are hard to find it makes sense but Craig's List makes WAY more sense when buying something like an iPhone (unless you're in a more remote area I suppose).
Sucks that the tool is gone (for now hopefully) but it would be a mistake to think you're in the clear on a purchase just because this comes up clean.
For phones, always a carrier or Apple Store. For cellular iPads, same deal. If I can't connect it and activate it from my laptop, no buy. For laptops I check for EFI locks and ensure I can start a fresh install of macOS.
I wouldn't buy from eBay at this point. For things that are hard to find it makes sense but Craig's List makes WAY more sense when buying something like an iPhone (unless you're in a more remote area I suppose).
Sucks that the tool is gone (for now hopefully) but it would be a mistake to think you're in the clear on a purchase just because this comes up clean.
It's a slippery slope because this is useful for legitimate buyers, and yet, announcing anything means thieves find workarounds. I went through the activation lock craziness in September.
I do hope Apple figures out a way to combat this and make it easier for folks who buy new and used iPhones.
I do hope Apple figures out a way to combat this and make it easier for folks who buy new and used iPhones.
Having watched this and Louis Rossman's videos on YouTube(1), I get the idea that once you've done the de/resoldering a couple of times, it's not that hard. (It would be hard for you and me the first couple of times, but after that more of a question of exercise).
What I find amazing, is the part in your video where it shows the flash reading/writing station. Amazing how someone actually made a plug-and-play combination of software and USB-device to rewrite these specific iPad Flash memory chips.
(1) https://www.youtube.com/user/rossmanngroup
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking... they're finding ways to make it idiot proof, but like an old Gunny used to tell me: Make something idiot proof and they'll make a better idiot. Or in this case, thieves.
Very interesting. I've got a lost iPad in the wild right now and I wonder if that is what happens to it.
Timmy got even more greedy and want to prevent people from buying used iPhones and iPads.
Yep, that's exactly what it is. Don't bother reading what the actual people with knowledge posted about how this tool is used by thieves to sell stolen iPhones. Just spew the same regurgitated garbage as the rest of the ignorant masses.
Best put "/s" at the end because this guy will probably reply with a serious response... bless 'em.
Okay. Bye. Have fun.
This is actually cost effective? Almost seems like more work than it's worth. Not to mention the high probability of messing it up in the process.