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They can do the same thing with a credit card. If some thief got a hold of your cc, they can go and charge stuff just as easily.
Sure. But the whole point of Apple Pay is to be more secure than a credit card, since every transaction is supposed to require user authentication. That's why Apple can charge the banks for a piece of the transaction fees.
 
Since we all saw and experienced how successful Activation Lock is at reducing iOS device theft, it really is a headscratcher why Apple didn't bother to incorporate a similar feature for the Apple Watch.
 
The thing that makes this a story isn't that something can be stolen. ANYTHING can be stolen.

The thing that makes it a story is that Apple Watches, at the moment, are fairly rare. And, as smart watches go, they are expensive.

That makes them more of a theft target than a Pebble or what have you.

Over time, this will be less of an issue as the Apple Watch becomes more commonplace. And, let's face it, they'll have to sort out some way to discourage theft.

All this aside, I'm kind of glad nobody seems to recognize my Apple Watch when I go out and about. And I live in an affluent suburb, so people here can surely afford them, so they're the target market.

I think that, for now, the general public just aren't used to seeing them, so they may be less of a theft target. As their popularity increases, the odds of theft will increase (just like it did with the iPhone).
 
How, exactly would this be implemented?

Someone who steals something you're wearing must DO THIS BY FORCE. Correct? What would stop them from getting your passcode from you as well? You're being threatened by a punch/knife/gun, you'll give up the passcode as well. Now the watch is theirs.

There is nothing Apple can do about this.

Cell phone theft where you place the cell phone down and someone takes it is another issue altogether.
Your scenarios are _always_ a blast a read when there is anything negative written about Apple. What kind of warped logic are you on, when you believe that because a thief will forcibly acquire user passwords, Apple should not bother with providing theft-deterrant capabilities?

Being able to actually locate your stolen watch might be nice too, as was mentioned in the article. Or do your scenarios also include the thief requiring the victim to also disable tracking capabilities as part of their little transaction?
 
Where is if someone is holding you at gun point and steals it I think you will be more grateful your alive than worrying about the watch
Yes, but I'd be even more grateful if the watch had a theft deterrent that was made known and so thieves with guns weren't likely to target me. Remember, theft of iPhones went down from 25%-50%. With or without a gun, a thief isn't going to target someone for something they can't easily use or sell.
 
Yes, but I'd be even more grateful if the watch had a theft deterrent that was made known and so thieves with guns weren't likely to target me. Remember, theft of iPhones went down from 25%-50%. With or without a gun, a thief isn't going to target someone for something they can't easily use or sell.
Exactly. The whole notion of foregoing security functionalities because the thief may possibly bypass them is mind-bogglingly absurd.
 
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.

Theft only happens in the ghetto? Fox News teach you that?
 
AppleScruff1 had an acne problem when he was 13. I'm going to bring this up to single you out.

You can't defend yourself and say 'everyone at 13 did too' because 'two wrongs don't make it right'

did apple choose to give all 13yo's in this scenario Acne when all the other humans they manufactured prior to this subset did NOT get released and shipped with Acne?

this logic circle is getting' freaky deaky, ya'll
 
The take home message is: don't lose your Apple Watch!
The same applies with all other watches. /facepalm.

Maybe they'll add that feature in v2.
 
did apple choose to give all 13yo's in this scenario Acne when all the other Boys they manufactured prior to this subset did NOT have acne?

this logic circle is getting' freaky deaky, ya'll
If you're interested, read some of that user's post history - they're pretty consistent in that department.
 
Is there a resellers market/high demand for Samsung gear or a Rolex? nope

There's a massive market for pre-owned Rolex. I have friends who have shops in Mayfair, London, who cannot get enough pre-owned steel sports Rolex. Any they get in they can sell within the hour!
 
It's not about stealing data (which is arguably more valuable), it's about stealing hardware.
That's what the article is about, but I was responding to what I think is also a valid concern. If a mugger knocks you down from behind and takes off the watch while holding a finger on the sensor as described in the posting I responded to, they can not only sell it, but also use it to pay with Apple Pay without any authentication (and access any other information that might be stored locally on the watch). For example, they could walk into the next Apple store and buy five more watches using the stolen one ...
 
Yes, but I'd be even more grateful if the watch had a theft deterrent that was made known and so thieves with guns weren't likely to target me. Remember, theft of iPhones went down from 25%-50%. With or without a gun, a thief isn't going to target someone for something they can't easily use or sell.

You shouldn't carry anything of value then. Don't ever carry laptops with you because a thief can steal it from you. Don't ride a bicycle because a thief can steal it from you. Maybe don't even drive because there are carjackings.
Doh.
 
Yes, but I'd be even more grateful if the watch had a theft deterrent that was made known and so thieves with guns weren't likely to target me. Remember, theft of iPhones went down from 25%-50%. With or without a gun, a thief isn't going to target someone for something they can't easily use or sell.

Considering there has been less than 20 street hold ups with guns in the last 5 years in this very large 4M people city... I'm going to assume that I have to worry a lot more about being hit by lightning. If you are in one of the rare place were gun point robberies are very frequent, you're probably better off wearing wallmart wear and nothing of value anyway... Until you move out (or stay out) off course. Who on earth who stay in such a place.

Even with smart phones, most robberies are just snatch and grabs, often with some other guys doing obstruction. Armed robbery is just too risky if you get caught; risking a gun charge for a $350 sports watch is beyond idiocy.
 
It's a non-issue because it's securely strapped to your wrist.

You think that's secure, do you?

Stealing a watch requires you to be willing to do more than just basic robbery and actually assault or threaten someone. Obviously people willing to commit such crimes exist, but I think they are a minority among those willing to steal.

This makes it worse, not better. I'd rather 10 people get pickpocketed than 1 person get threatened with a gun.
 
It's a non-issue because it's securely strapped to your wrist...


You can pop a sport band with a little bit of effort and proper finger placement, meaning a skilled hand could unlatch and grab it. Same goes for the modern buckle if you grab it in the right place.
 
Apple not only has ways to make it harder for thieves to steal such things, but has dealt with the issue of theft over the years in regards to it's iPhone, iPad, etc. It has considered the issue and worked on it for nearly a decade, especially given that these devices relate to important data (unlike candy). So why not have such a feature for the watch as well? They can't possibly say they never imagined it being stolen or have no way of stopping it like Hershey's and their candy.

The onus for the theft isn't on them. But the onus of not providing watch customers with some kind of theft deterrent is.

Because it isn't an important enough feature to  Watch to devote resources into creating the components, modifying existing components, and integrating a system that needs to be added for the watch. Especially given the amount of resources it was taking to get the watch to market by April.

Obviously, it was better to omit that feature (which I would argue is a tentpole of iOS) because I agree, Apple didn't not think about this. In fact, they probably thought about all of the details:

  • How do you activate a watch with no known Wifi networks in range and no UI for that? Do you build your own? This feature just became far more complex and now involves deeper UI commitment.
  • How many Apple Watches are going to be separated from their owners phones? How many just nabbed off someones' wrist?

The list of possible questions goes on... and you have to weigh the list against a lot of factors.
 
I don't see that the Apple watch in any way should be more interesting for thieves than any other watch in the same price range though. And people aren't exactly getting expensive watches ripped off their wrists all the time.
Unlike any other "watch" of the same price currently on the market, there are people who would love to get their hands on one of these wrist worn devices for a lesser price, and/or at a sooner date than July. Which is all thieves have to know to put it at the top of their list. Add to this the fact that thieves can recognize this watch as compared to the really expensive watches that most of us wouldn't know cost this or that many thousands of dollars. THIS "watch" they know from all the ads and billboards, news reports, etc. Unlike other watches in the same price range, :apple: Watch is getting a lot of attention.

So long as it's rare, in demand, new, well known and getting big bids on e-bay (meaning it can be sold easily and fast), thieves will notice if someone has it and think of stealing it over some other wrist-worn device.
 
force touch on shutdown screen?

That detail to erase all doesn't seem to work on my watch.

press/hold power down button to bring up shutdown screen. Then force touch THAT screen? How long, and the erase all dialogue should show up? Doesn't seem to work for me that way.
 
It's a non-issue because it's securely strapped to your wrist. Phones are an easy target because it's easy to pick pocket, or to grab out of a purse, or to just grab it right out of someone's hands as they're using it.

Stealing a watch requires you to be willing to do more than just basic robbery and actually assault or threaten someone. Obviously people willing to commit such crimes exist, but I think they are a minority among those willing to steal.

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.
 
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