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Apple Watch Vulnerable to Theft With No Activation Lock
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Just curious. What are your thoughts about the actual lack of security on the watch?
I'm pretty sure Apple Watch owners are comforted by the knowledge other watches lack security.
Why was the Apple Watch singled out? It wasn't. This report comes from an Apple-centric site. Why would that site be reporting on Rolex and Timex, or Moto360 for that matter? Maybe they realize that bringing up Rolex, Timex and Moto360 doesn't change the fact that the Apple watch is vulnerable to theft.
One of the differences is possible data on the watch.
Standard analogue and non-smart watches do not store any data, no personal data.
Apple's Watch is one of the first smartwatches that I know of that actually physically stores some data on it.
its the privacy and security of this data which changes the game.
No. Not "Doh." My laptop can take a picture of the thief and send it's location to the police. My bike can be locked up with a big lock that takes a lot of work to get through. My car has a device let's the police know if it's being stolen and where it is.
So. "Doh" back atcha. I mean if you were going to have a bike wouldn't you carry a lock? If you were going to have a car wouldn't you have an anti-theft device on it? If you have a laptop don't you appreciate having "find my laptop" etc. on it? "Doh!" on you if you don't. And "doh!" on Apple for not having some way for a person carrying this valuable article to make it either not worth stealing (like the iPhone) or know where it is if stolen (like my laptop). All my other items have such anti-theft devices. But we're being told that this watch cannot have that?
Why not?
Apple is probably thinking up some clever and innovative security addition for wOS 2.0. After reading this article, I am a bit more concerned about the security risk to my Apple Watch and hope they have a short-term fix to present at WWDC after they announce how many watches they've sold
It's a neat trick, but the second someone puts their hand over my watch like that, I'm not going to let the person keep holding on while doing their slight-of-hand to get the watch off. And I don't think the ratio of normal thieves to thieves willing to threaten with a gun to steal such a relatively small-value item is 10:1, or even in the same ballpark as 10:1.
It's not realistic to think someone can steal an Apple Watch off your wrist without threatening or actually harming you, like many others have said. Non-issue.
Professional pickpockets can easily remove regular wristwatches without people noticing.
Magnetic closures will simply make this even easier for them.
Perhaps. Before iPhones got a way to make them useless, violent robberies... even killings... to take them, were on the rise here in the Northeast US.
My questions to bbeagle were rhetorical. The site didn't report on Rolex, Timex or Moto360. It was commentary on his penchant for "defending by bus", as in rolling every other company under the bus instead of addressing an Apple issue on it's own merit.
Example: Apple affected by Thunderstrike. His response would be something like: "I don't understand why this is getting mentioned. MS has tons of malware and so does Android. You don't hear anyone talking about that though. Only when it's Apple." The actual Apple issue is never addressed.
A couple of years ago the crime rate in NY actually went up due to an increase in iPhone thefts.
You are a pickpocket's dream. You think they're going to announce that they're going to try to pickpocket you? There are a million tricks to get inside someone's personal space without setting off any alarms.
oh, makes sense... its why that user is on my iggy list anyways.
I was actually more questioning if thats why as well. The article makes comment that they'd have to wipe the device first.
It would be a nice gesture to have a 'smart unlock' feature though. some form of passcode that is always forced, unless you're tethered to your phone. that way, the watch itself is locked and useless unless it's near you (and you can do it vice versa, your phone wouldn't lock if you had your watch on)
Oh, I grant you that Apple had a huge amount to consider in making this device. An enormous amountit was years in the making--and I've no doubt that each and every hour they had to think of something more. I've no doubt they tried to think of everything and didn't for all that they probably tested the hell out of this watch.
I totally get having lapses and/or putting some things higher up on the "must have" list than others.
However,, theft has been discussed a lot by Apple in the past few years. From making iPhones less desirable to thieves to protecting credit cards (a selling point for Apple Pay). Neglecting/forgetting/not-getting-around-to-it-yet is less understandable (and forgivable) if the company has been touting that very thing as supremely important to them.
Who says I have to wait for you to lock your bike? I'll grab it by force before you can lock it. Or i'll knock you out while you're passing by me.
LOL, your laptop can take pictures?! Wow, I guess that would prevent all thieves from stealing your laptop! Yeah, because they won't know anything about re-installing the OS.
Your car has a tracking device? First of all, I EXTREMELY doubt that simply based on the fact that only a VERY SMALL number of people have that in their cars. Secondly, yes, you can install it and PAY EXTRA for it(which almost nobody does because they don't WORRY about it like they're not going to worry about their apple watch getting stolen).
I don't believe is that simple.
I'm sure something can be implemented with the current generation of Apple Watch, as the device depends on an iPhone or iTunes to work properly.
A stolen device could get blacklisted and when someone tries to pair it with an iPhone or connect it to iTunes, it could trigger an alert and disable the device permanently (unless is taken to an Apple Store or re-enabled by the original user).
I'm sure something can be implemented with the current generation of Apple Watch, as the device depends on an iPhone or iTunes to work properly.
A stolen device could get blacklisted and when someone tries to pair it with an iPhone or connect it to iTunes, it could trigger an alert and disable the device permanently (unless is taken to an Apple Store or re-enabled by the original user).
It would be able,to be authenticated from any other trusted device you are logged in with your AppleID - it would work just like two-step verification. So you're iPad or Macbook/iMac/Mac mini...or did we lose all of those things?
Yeah, pretty much sure that it's the last thing on anyone's mind until it happens.
Exactly! Why DON'T any of you want the added security, and public awareness that it is essentially worthless and futile to steal an Apple Watch?
The Apple Watch is engraved with a serial number, which is also stored electronically on the device.
The moment the thief pairs the Apple Watch with their phone and thus iTunes Account, aren't they immediately revealing their identity to Apple? Apple could literally send the cops to the exact location of the thief or their buyer. I don't think wiping the Watch would erase the serial number.
Maybe because nobody cares. Would it be better if it had an anti-theft protection. Of course. Will it cause people to not buy an apple watch. NOPE. Just like it didn't prevent people from not buying iPhones before.
Will apple haters make a stink about it? Yes, yes it will.
Yes! "Apple Watch vulnerable to Theft With No Activation Lock" and yes, every smart watch and dumb watch also vulnerable to theft. Honestly the real question is: Are you, the watch owner, vulnerable to just being plain dumb?
How about this guy -> "Here's the $100K, diamond and gold watch one man left at a Newark airport checkpoint"
How about this guy -> "Here's the $100K, diamond and gold watch one man left at a Newark airport checkpoint"
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Who says everyone must have iPad/Mac? I bet the majority of the iPhone owners don't.