Find My iPhone can be defeated by disabling location services?

[hansonjohn590]

To turn off find my iphone, you need a password. But all one has to do is turn off location services and that disables find my iphone.

According to the instructions, it can be re-enabled for Lost Mode but how would I activate that if the phone doesn't even show up on the map?

 

[Armen]

To turn off find my iphone, you need a password. But all one has to do is turn off location services and that disables find my iphone.

According to the instructions, it can be re-enabled for Lost Mode but how would I activate that if the phone doesn't even show up on the map?

Or you could just use a passcode so said perp can't unlock your phone to begin with?

 

[Krayzkat]

or scroll up from the lock screen to activate airplane mode........

 

[Armen]

or scroll up from the lock screen to activate airplane mode........

or disable control center from the lockscreen

 

[C DM]

To turn off find my iphone, you need a password. But all one has to do is turn off location services and that disables find my iphone.

According to the instructions, it can be re-enabled for Lost Mode but how would I activate that if the phone doesn't even show up on the map?

One can just turn on airplane mode, or turn the phone off completely at that point too, among many other things that one can do with an unlocked phone.

None of that would affect activation lock part of it all though.

 

[laudern]

You could do all those things but you'd have a gimped phone that most well be broken anyway

 

[gaanee]

or scroll up from the lock screen to activate airplane mode........

Wow.. didn't realize that one can simply turn on airplane mode and it will be off the network.. sounds like a big security oversight. Now makes me wonder, should I disable the control center from the lock screen, but other features on there are useful.

 

[rdowty]

Unless you can disable the power button you might as well keep them.

 

[MrGuder]

"Find My iPhone can be defeated by disabling location services?"


Not in iOS6.....you enable location services but then you password protect it so that location services can't be turned off unless you have the password...then on top of that I password protect my phone so you need a password right from the start so it's protected twice.

 

[PNutts]

To turn off find my iphone, you need a password. But all one has to do is turn off location services and that disables find my iphone.

According to the instructions, it can be re-enabled for Lost Mode but how would I activate that if the phone doesn't even show up on the map?

In iCloud go to Find My Phone. Along the top at the center is a drop down that contains your devices. Select the phone and enable Lost Mode, wipe it, etc.

Eight responses and nobody answered the question.

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Wow.. didn't realize that one can simply turn on airplane mode and it will be off the network.. sounds like a big security oversight. Now makes me wonder, should I disable the control center from the lock screen, but other features on there are useful.

It's not a security oversight, it's a choice. I have control center disabled on the lock screen, but with a 5s unlocking the phone is just a press away. However, a locked phone can still be shut off so I should probably just turn control center back on if the hacks to bypass the passcode have been patched.

 

[hansonjohn590]

In iCloud go to Find My Phone. Along the top at the center is a drop down that contains your devices. Select the phone and enable Lost Mode, wipe it, etc.

Eight responses and nobody answered the question.



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It's not a security oversight, it's a choice. I have control center disabled on the lock screen, but with a 5s unlocking the phone is just a press away. However, a locked phone can still be shut off so I should probably just turn control center back on if the hacks to bypass the passcode have been patched.

Thank you so much for answering! I feel like an idiot for not noticing it was right in front of me!

 

[C DM]

"Find My iPhone can be defeated by disabling location services?"


Not in iOS6.....you enable location services but then you password protect it so that location services can't be turned off unless you have the password...then on top of that I password protect my phone so you need a password right from the start so it's protected twice.

Sounds like you are talking about restrictions which are separate and extra, and which similarly exist and can be used in iOS 7.

 

[PNutts]

Thank you so much for answering! I feel like an idiot for not noticing it was right in front of me!

I think they moved it recently. I first clicked on my name on the far right.

 

[mattyu007]

According to the instructions, it can be re-enabled for Lost Mode but how would I activate that if the phone doesn't even show up on the map?

It doesn't have to show up on the map for you to activate Lost Mode, the option appears if you select your iPhone from the menu at the top of the screen.

 

[charlituna]

"Find My iPhone can be defeated by disabling location services?"


Not in iOS6.....you enable location services but then you password protect it so that location services can't be turned off unless you have the password...then on top of that I password protect my phone so you need a password right from the start so it's protected twice.

How dare you actually know all the ins and outs of the restrictions settings.

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It's not a security oversight, it's a choice. I have control center disabled on the lock screen, but with a 5s unlocking the phone is just a press away.

I would agree that perhaps, in the interest of user security, some of the defaults that are on should be off by default.

Things such as
access to control center and notification center on the lock screen
bluetooth
in app purchases
password required immediately unless the user changes it to something longer

I know it seems like babying folks but frankly new users might need a little babying in this case. Older users will likely be using a backup so the changes won't affect them unless they decide to wipe and start over.

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It doesn't have to show up on the map for you to activate Lost Mode, the option appears if you select your iPhone from the menu at the top of the screen.

yep. But what you want to do is NEVER hit 'remove from account' unless you are selling a device. They need better confirmation on that one so folks understand that doing it means someone can force wipe the phone and use it all they want.