Apple Watch Vulnerable to Theft With No Activation Lock

[ackmondual]

We are still trying to argue what constitutes as being useful to someone? How does anyone else even pretend to know what others find useful for themselves or could make any generalized statement on behalf of others as far as their personal lives go? What sort of silliness is this that keeps on popping up constantly just because some don't find something interesting or useful and instead of just not caring about it trying to prove something that can't be proven and doesn't apply to anyone but themselves.

I have no doubt that the iWatch is useful. However, at $350+, it did lose potential customers at such a price point. The rest on the fence are those that need to determine if what's offered is enough to justify that price.

There is nothing that stops a $20,000 Rolex from parting ways with it's owner and being worn on a new owner's wrist either. In fact, 99% of things worth more than the price of an iWatch have no theft deterrents either.

Well, hopefully someone insured their $20K watch. I guess you can do the same for your $350 to $17K iWatch as well. AFAIK, insurance companies should be able to add it to their policies.

Precisely. You're making the counter argument yourself.

A $20,000 Rolex doesn't have any capabilities that could be applied as a theft deterrent.

The Apple Watch does. Despite costing less.

Cell phones were expensive back in the "olden'" days (well, the 80s and 90s). They didn't have much in the way of theft deterrent, but I don't think anybody would argue iPhones shouldn't have that.

 

[Languageoflust]

All watches are the same.

Expensive or cheap. but if i should make a suggestion.

i think apple should make their watches more secure. at least it can protect the users from getting their good looking apple watch stolen..
im getting mine tomorrow

<3
Regards
Language of Desire Review girl

 

[C DM]

I have no doubt that the iWatch is useful. However, at $350+, it did lose potential customers at such a price point. The rest on the fence are those that need to determine if what's offered is enough to justify that price.


Well, hopefully someone insured their $20K watch. I guess you can do the same for your $350 to $17K iWatch as well. AFAIK, insurance companies should be able to add it to their policies.


Cell phones were expensive back in the "olden'" days (well, the 80s and 90s). They didn't have much in the way of theft deterrent, but I don't think anybody would argue iPhones shouldn't have that.

Sure, price is something to consider, but again, it's different for everyone so no one can really make a statement as to how much of a deterrent it is or should be for someone else when everything else is considered along with the price.

 

[stu.h]

I spend half my time in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Let me tell you robbery with a gun or knife is pretty much the only kind you'll experience in the street here! It's common, come over and you can find people who've had it happen to them before you've even left the airport! My girlfriend has been robbed a gunpoint on the bus (guy sat next to her, rested the gun on his knees and emptied her bag), and whilst in the dentists chair (she was having an extraction or something and a couple of guys came in with guns, locked the surgery and robbed everyone there). The street i worked in, the main street in from of Congonhas airport, nice neighbourhood, pretty wealthy, expensive, had 10 armed robberies a day according to the police.

****! Does this thing happen? Really?

 

[Attonine]

****! Does this thing happen? Really?

Oh yeah. It's common. 42,000 people, that's 115 a day, died because of firearms in Brazil in 2012.

Here's a common scam in Sao Paulo. Walking down the street, maybe going to the carpark to get your car, a couple of guys just walking a bit behind you holding a pizza box (pizza is very popular in Sao Paulo). When you get to your car, key in the door, they guys ask you for your wallet, watch, phone etc, the one holding the pizza box, opens the lid a little, yup he's got holding a gun in there. Of course, if you're lucky they just take your stuff and walk off. If you're unlucky they will kidnap you, force you to drive to an ATM machine and stand next to you while you empty your bank account.

Then there's always the fact you don't have to stop at a red light, especially at night because you get criminals waiting there to come up to your car, knock on the window, show the gun and calmly rob you. Be wary of guys on motorbikes, especially at red lights, often they will work in pairs, pull up to the side of your car, same story, show the gun.........

Guns too much for you, what about little kids with knives, maybe you've just come out of the metro station and some little poor looking kid samples up to you, probably with a couple of mates endpoints the knife at you......

 

[Rogifan]

Yawn.... so the Apple Watch is like 99.9% of all things... it can be stolen and used. Stupid.

This is sensationalism at its finest. People are seriously worried about being mugged because they're wearing an Apple Watch?

 

[ozute]

Why is only Apple Watch singled out?

EVERY smart watch and NON-smart watch - even those costing thousands of dollars more - operates in the same way. Lose the watch, or get it stolen, someone else can use it like it was theirs.

Every Rolex, Timex, Moto 360.... all work the same way. Why single out Apple Watch?

Possibly because this is an Apple rumour website, not a Rolex, Timex or Moto 360 rumour website..?

 

[stanhope]

Blissfully unaware

Does my wife's engagement ring have activation lock? Does my Panerai or Rolex?

Gosh you people must live in the ghetto. Theft is the last thing on my mind in normal life.

Clearly you must not live in an urban area. In Chicago, in a "good neighborhood" near DePaul University, in the late afternoon on a sunny day, a woman going down the steps from the train was killed over an iPhone...read the blotter in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Washington DC.......perhaps with this enlightenment you'll sound less like a bourgeois republican.

 

[furam90]

It isn't an issue. If someone is taking the watch off your arm and doing this there's obviously more going on. Most likely they are holding you up, so really i'd doubt you care if they take your watch or wallet, you are more concerned about your life at that point. Unless of course you think the watch should have a force field to stop all kinds of robberies

I do think it should be able to lock itself like it was designed to when it is robbed. If the PIN is easily bypassable, then what's the point?

 

[Aetles]

Why is only Apple Watch singled out?

EVERY smart watch and NON-smart watch - even those costing thousands of dollars more - operates in the same way. Lose the watch, or get it stolen, someone else can use it like it was theirs.

Every Rolex, Timex, Moto 360.... all work the same way. Why single out Apple Watch?

It's so obvious that I'm amazed I have to spell it out for you.

1) Because Apple gadgets are much hotter items for theft by an order of magnitude.
2) Because Apple has made great progress in preventing iPhone theft.
3) Because of 2) Apple customers now expect Apple to pay attention to this.
4) Because this is as site focusing on Apple gadgets.

You really couldn't figure out these things on your own?

The argument that all other watches all work the same is such a stupid argument. That could have been said about phones as well, before Apple started it's effort to prevent iPhone theft.

 

[Aetles]

Seriously? This makes it as news?

Seriously? This whole "I'm the one who decides what is Apple-related news on MacRumors." is getting very old…

Who cares?

Apple Watch users care. Just as much as iPhone users care about not having their phones stolen.

If a company has successfully come up with technical solutions to make theft of expensive devices a little less attractive, the of course users of new kind of expensive products from the same company would like to enjoy the same protection.

The data is protected, that is far more important.

Why pit those against each others when you can strive for both?

Are you making the same argument about preventing iPhone theft? This is the same argument that no sane person would do: "Who cares about loosing your iPhone when the data is protected?"

 

[6836838]

That's not the problem the thief has to worry about. They'll sell the watch to someone who has the right phone and wants the watch, just doesn't want to pay $700 for it and the band. If they can sell that $700 watch/band for $300, they've made quick and easy money.

And imagine if they've stolen five of those watches...

Not if it permanently locks the phone when out of wifi/BT range of a paired phone.

 

[sniffies]

Angry customer with July delivery for sure

Oh yeah?

 

[BvizioN]

Oh yeah?

Ok then. Mid May delivery. Almost equaly bad

 

[DiamondGCoupe]

I can't seem to get the Erase All option when Watch is locked now, must have been a fix in yesterday's update!

 

[sniffies]

Ok then. Mid May delivery. Almost equaly bad

Oh yeah?

 

[ZCT]

Sorry. I was glad to dump wearing a watch with the first cell phone I bought - waaaay before Apple had a phone.

Not. Going. Back. Ever.

This is one of the most marginal products Apple has ever ever released. It's only possible real future is in health. The rest is pure vanity. Your phone's right there in your pocket anyway with a nice big screen.

Oh, and by the way, I'm a long long time fan of Apple products going back to the Mac SE. So don't use the hate card. That won't fly.

I just took a cycle ride along the beach in Monterey California. Thanks to my Apple Watch I had a timer that let me know how long I had been out (they charge per two hours). I know some heart beat readings throughout the ride, and a projection of calories burned.

As I left the bike rental store my watch tapped me and when I looked at it, it confirmed the exact amount they had just run through on my credit card. If they had entered the wrong amount, I could have walked back in and had them correct it right there.

Then I walked into Walgreens and purchased a couple of items using Apple Pay in about 2 seconds, without having to reach for my phone.

So far I've also liked how it keeps me informed of my flight status. Lets me know when my products are delivered from Amazon. I've even used to check into a hotel with a couple of taps. You can even set your ETA and the staff have the key ready for you when you arrive.

When I am traveling, I can see at a glance the temperature outside. I can easily see the time where I'm at, and in the time zone where I live.

And keep in mind there are thousands of improvements, new apps, tweaks and added functionality to be found over the next year or two.

Last weekend I was at the movies and rather than hulking a smart phone out of my pocket and annoying those around me with a big glowing screen, I was able to just glance at my wrist.

The Apple Watch isn't a necessity. Yes much of what you can do with it could be achieved with the phone alone.

The fact is, I've had a week now where I could have returned it for a refund, or sold it for a few hundred dollars profit on eBay, but I am keeping it because it does several useful things I very much enjoy.

Frankly, unless you've lived with one for a week or so, you are not qualified to judge the usefulness of it.

That said if you have such a visceral hatred for anything being on your wrist, then it probably isn't for you. Doesn't make the product marginal. It would be like me claiming a Harley is marginal because they are noisy, half of them look silly, and I have no desire to ride a motorcycle.

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I have no doubt that the iWatch is useful. However, at $350+, it did lose potential customers at such a price point. The rest on the fence are those that need to determine if what's offered is enough to justify that price.

If $349 is 'expensive' to you, then for sure the Apple Watch is absolutely not for you.

I'm glad they put the price point where they did, and kept with premium quality and materials.

I'm stepping down from an Omega to wear my Apple Watch, and I sure as heck am not going to make the switch to wear something that feels like a Casio.

 

[BvizioN]

Oh yeah?

Image

That can be any of the hundreds of images posted he by excited forum members who received the watch on 24/4

Just kidding. Still disagree with your initial comment. Even more bizarre coming from someone who already have the watch.

 

[nidhish1]

Thanks for the step by step instructions letting people know why it is a great idea to steal my Watch

hahaha your comment made me LOL dude. I'm with you on this.