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What's the point of that though? That's just a second password. Seems more like a workaround. I understand what it's doing, but at a fundamental basis, changing a password should require you to enter the existing password. Apple should just change that and we would be far more secure
So I guess the answer is no.because if you did the entire phone can be virtually locked down.
I'm not trying to blame Apple here, but I do think a HUGE part of security is the user itself. People continuing to use 1111 PIN codes are really not doing themselves any favors.
That’s not apples fault though as you said.
The action of requiring a device password for changing a password isn't horrible, but it's quite useless if people's PINs are getting cracked. In my case since I use alphanumeric, someone grabbing a phone out of my hand can't change the password easily. With that said being able to access apps, emails, etc is already a huge pain and probably they can wreak plenty of havoc that way without ever entering my device password again
Putting a screen time password in would virtually luminary this issue and checking the appropriate defaults.
 
...what, exactly, was the point of the 'report'?

"If someone steals your house keys, they could get in your house and take your stuff!" - Joanna Stern later today, probably.

The real issue isn’t made very clear, but the problem is that by default you can reset your apple id password with your device passcode. I’m not aware of any way to turn this off.

Unfortunately everyone who I’ve ever needed to log in to their apple id to install an app has reset their password. Most people just reset it every time rather than actually remember or record it.
 
Thieves probably target iPhones because it has the easy to see large number pad. I've seen many android users using swipe-to-unlock...and newer android phones are at least 20% slower compared to newer iPhones. Time is money.
Naw is because they make it harder to steal and compromise then apple phones. Even on some android phones you can set a boot pin so the device can't boot up unless a password is entered. Thief's know apple users are not generally tech savvy and don't protect their devices as well.
 


An in-depth report published today by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern and Nicole Nguyen highlights instances of thieves spying on a victim's iPhone passcode before stealing the device in order to gain access to the device, data, and money.

iphone-passcode-green.jpg

All of the victims interviewed said their iPhones were stolen while they were out socializing at bars and other public places at night. Some victims said the iPhones were grabbed out of their hands by strangers, while others said they were physically assaulted and intimidated. The report provides specific examples of these instances.

With knowledge of the iPhone's passcode, a thief can easily reset the victim's Apple ID password in the Settings app, even if Face ID or Touch ID is enabled. Subsequently, the thief can turn off Find My iPhone on the device, preventing the owner of the device from tracking its location or remotely erasing the device via iCloud. The thief can also remove other trusted Apple devices from the account to further lock out the victim.

The thief can also change an Apple ID's contact information and set up a recovery key in order to prevent a victim from recovering the account.


To make matters worse, knowing an iPhone's passcode allows a thief to use Apple Pay, send Apple Cash, and access banking apps using passwords stored in iCloud Keychain. Even if Face ID or Touch ID is enabled on the iPhone, thieves can simply bypass these authentication methods and an option to input the device's passcode is presented. In some cases, the report claims that thieves even opened an Apple Card by finding the victim's last four digits of their Social Security number in photos stored in apps like Photos or Google Drive.

Access to other passwords stored in iCloud Keychain allows the thief to further wreak havoc, as it could give them access to email accounts and other sensitive information. All in all, the report says thieves can essentially "steal your entire digital life."

Apple Responds

In response to the report, an Apple spokesperson said "security researchers agree that iPhone is the most secure consumer mobile device, and we work tirelessly every day to protect all our users from new and emerging threats."

"We sympathize with users who have had this experience and we take all attacks on our users very seriously, no matter how rare," the spokesperson added. "We will continue to advance the protections to help keep user accounts secure." Apple did not provide any specific details about any next steps it might take to increase security.

In a tweet, Stern recommended that Apple add extra protections to iOS and introduce additional Apple ID account recovery options.

How to Stay Protected

In a tweet, Stern recommended that users switch from a four-digit passcode to an alphanumeric passcode, which would be more difficult for thieves to spy on. This can be done in the Settings app under Face ID & Passcode → Change Passcode.

iPhone users can also use Face ID or Touch ID as much as possible when in public to prevent thieves from spying on their passcode. In situations where entering the passcode is necessary, users can hold their hands over their screen to hide passcode entry.

To protect a bank account, consider storing the password in a password manager that does not involve the device's passcode, such as 1Password.

Article Link: Apple Responds to Report About Thieves Spying on iPhone Passcodes to 'Steal Your Entire Digital Life'
If you had the displeasure of actually watching the video, you'll see that the iPhone isn't ditz proof. Seriously, who uses a passcode instead of FaceID, especially in public? Well ditzes do. Joan @wsj is usually pretty good but in this case she never asked the interviewee, like why didn't you faceid? The other ditz thing to do is to use banking apps on their iphone. Shopping apps are bad enough but your banking account? Ditz, ditzier, ditziest,
 
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If your iPhone passcode is less than 12 digits you’re doing it wrong.

It’s pretty easy to use the phone number of a childhood friend that nobody would ever guess so you don’t forget it.
 
Under poor lighting conditions — such as in bars — in my personal experience Face ID fails frequently and forces the passcode as a result. With my TouchID iPhones, I NEVER had that issue. I would be interested to know in how many of these cases, the passcode entry was necessitated by a FaceID failure versus a TouchID failure (for those who still have those older iPhones) …
I guess maybe it varies from person to person, but even in pitch dark, Face ID always works flawlessly. I have an iPad Air and while I love it, I have issues with Touch ID, mostly because I have skin issues in the winter. I'm upgrading to the iPad Pro, not only for that reason of course, but I'm looking forward to unlocking it just by looking.
 
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Under poor lighting conditions — such as in bars — in my personal experience Face ID fails frequently and forces the passcode as a result. With my TouchID iPhones, I NEVER had that issue. I would be interested to know in how many of these cases, the passcode entry was necessitated by a FaceID failure versus a TouchID failure (for those who still have those older iPhones) …

Low-light conditions are where Face ID performs best. Under those conditions, there are few other sources of infrared to confuse the infrared camera and dot projector. It's outdoors, especially in direct sunlight where problem can occur.

If you are having Face ID problems in poor lighting, you should consider bringing the iPhone in for service.
 
When did apple make it that easy to change your Apple ID password? I’m quite shocked by that part
That part is surprising indeed, but I’m thinking my best defense is to make the Apple ID on the devices that leave my house less important. I’ve been wallowing in the ease of having all the digital eggs in one basket with easy access.
 
Under poor lighting conditions — such as in bars — in my personal experience Face ID fails frequently and forces the passcode as a result. With my TouchID iPhones, I NEVER had that issue. I would be interested to know in how many of these cases, the passcode entry was necessitated by a FaceID failure versus a TouchID failure (for those who still have those older iPhones) …

Well FaceID works in infrared so “poor lighting conditions” have no effect on its efficacy.
 
This is not actually true.

Many apps allow authentication only with Face ID or your full account password. The passcode alone won't get you anywhere with most banking apps or with 3rd party password storage apps like 1Password, unless someone's able to retrieve your account password from the keychain, using your passcode. (So, don't put it there and you're safe.)
All you have to do is change your Face ID with your passcode in system settings, then go back and use Face ID to get in.
 
What's the point of that though? That's just a second password.
The fact that it’s a second password is the point.
And in a city with tech savvy young thieves working in groups, one could conceivably be forced to give up the secondary (screen time) password when they immediately check to see if they have access the settings they need.

I’m glad I read this article and comments on a day when I have the time to make an assessment of what is at risk on my phone and watch and figure out a strategy to minimize my risk. Edit: meaning, I’d like to be able to hand over my unlocked device and walk away unharmed and unworried about my digital security.
If they’re tech savvy enough to realise that you can use a secondary screen time password to hide the passcode and Face ID section and block the iCloud account access section, and they have a gun, then they’ll just demand the iCloud password directly, surely.
I mean when you’re threatened with violence or death, most of this is moot.

It IS a ridiculous oversight to be able to change the iCloud password without entering the old one first though.

As a few have stated already in the thread, I personally think you should be able to set up a second passcode which only allows access to a limited amount of apps. That way if you’re out in a bar or somewhere and someone does what the article suggests, they can’t really gain full access, but you can still use the phone to access the web and messages or whatever.
 
To bad we can't use face ID and touch ID and passcode at the same time for maximum security. :rolleyes:
 
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This is why I disagree with the users on here who keep saying passcode is more secure and stop using Face ID if you don't want people to take your phone and point it at you, etc. Perhaps the passcode is technically more secure, but it is practically way less secure. Face ID is secure especially if you enable "attention required." Always use Face ID. Never enter your passcode in public unless you are sure no one is looking at your screen (and to be extra secure, that no camera overhead is looking down at you).

Apple is not innocent either. Somehow they think it makes the phone more secure to occasionally demand your passcode at the most inconvenient times. This is way less secure. I have been asked for the passcode while in public and I actually waited until I went to a private location before entering it. Ask for it every restart, fair. But if the phone has been on and there are no multiple failed Face ID attempts, DO NOT ask for the passcode.
I agree with your last point. I feel like they ask for me to enter the passcode WAY too often. I don't remember having to enter it that often with TouchID back in the day and I don't know why it would be any different with FaceID. It drives me nuts.
 
Going with the theme a gun is held to your head it doesn't matter what the security, presumably you will give up everything. Else you can use a screen time password to lock things down.
Yes I mentioned both of those things in the part of my post that you snipped. That still doesn’t make it right that it’s possible to change a password of an account solely by using the password of what is essentially a different account. It’s basically unheard of to not have to enter the old password for verification before changing it for a new one.
 
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What happens to other people is non of my concern nor care

And so you are part of the problem. Caring about others — friends, family and strangers — is what keeps us human.

Drives me nuts when I go to a big city and just saying "hi" to people as you pass them is received with shock and a weird look. Come on people, let's be nice to each other. And don't piss on the toilet seat!
 
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I dunno. If someone stole my phone from my hand and did get away. They’ve got about 5 minutes before I’d be into iCloud and killing it.
 
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