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If phone stolen or lost, go to iCloud to wipe it, but...

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Libertas

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Original poster
Feb 27, 2018
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If I want to get into iCloud not on my phone (lets say it was stolen or lost) to wipe it, but when I try to get into iCloud it sends a code to my phone, then what?

I have "trust this browser" checked but it doesn't always work, it usually sends a code to the phone anyway. Do they send one to an email on file as a backup?

If you do lose it and go into iCloud and mark it as "lost", that locks it so you dont have to wipe it?
 
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Sign in to Find Devices on iCloud.com

You can sign in to Find Devices on iCloud.com to locate a missing device, even if your trusted device is lost.
support.apple.com

If you’re asked to enter a code from a trusted device​

  • If you go to icloud.com and sign in with your Apple ID and password, you may be asked to enter a code sent to a trusted device. To continue without entering a code, click the Find iPhone button under “Or get quick access to.”
 
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I thought there were alternative method of sending security code. For example, I get a choice between email or the device.
 
yukari said:
I thought there were alternative method of sending security code. For example, I get a choice between email or the device.
Click to expand...
Yes. Go to appleid.apple.com and assign trusted numbers.

Or from your iDevice, Settings > yournamehere > Password & Security > Trusted Phone Numbers. VERY important to set if no access to other Apple products (ie. only own an iPhone).
 
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NoBoMac said:
Yes. Go to appleid.apple.com and assign trusted numbers.

Or from your iDevice, Settings > yournamehere > Password & Security > Trusted Phone Numbers. VERY important to set if no access to other Apple products (ie. only own an iPhone).
Click to expand...

But if it is the iPhone (which has the trusted phone number SIM card) what has been stolen… then the code will be sent to the phone, which is in the thief’s hands
 
Populus said:
But if it is the iPhone (which has the trusted phone number SIM card) what has been stolen… then the code will be sent to the phone, which is in the thief’s hands
Click to expand...
If the iPhone has a PIN they wouldn't be able to see the code and if you PIN-protected your SIM, then they cannot put it in other phone to receive the code.
 
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Populus said:
But if it is the iPhone (which has the trusted phone number SIM card) what has been stolen… then the code will be sent to the phone, which is in the thief’s hands
Click to expand...
You still can send to the other number, which is the whole point.

Get a text or phone call​

If you don’t have a trusted device handy, you can have a verification code sent to your trusted phone number as a text message or phone call.
  1. Click Didn't get a verification code on the sign in screen.
  2. Choose to have the code sent to your trusted phone number.
Click to expand...
 
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diego.caraballo said:
If the iPhone has a PIN they wouldn't be able to see the code and if you PIN-protected your SIM, then they cannot put it in other phone to receive the code.
Click to expand...

True, I hadn’t thought about PIN-protected SIM. In this regard, do you think going eSIM is safer, or at least, equally safe in case of phone theft? Because I’m considering going eSIM with my new iPhone…
 
Libertas said:
If I want to get into iCloud not on my phone (lets say it was stolen or lost) to wipe it, but when I try to get into iCloud it sends a code to my phone, then what?

I have "trust this browser" checked but it doesn't always work, it usually sends a code to the phone anyway. Do they send one to an email on file as a backup?

If you do lose it and go into iCloud and mark it as "lost", that locks it so you dont have to wipe it?
Click to expand...
  1. Click "Didn't get verification code"
  2. More Options
  3. Confirm phone number
  4. Select appropriate option
 
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Here's my experience:

Transferred phones. Didn't want the old phone to latch onto iCloud and such if I turned it back on. So I issued the remote erase via Find My iPhone on the iCloud website.

iCloud says "the next time this phone powers up, it'll be erased."

So I turn the old phone on… and………… nothing happens.

iCloud gleefully says "this phone has been erased."

But it wasn't. Nothing f*cking happened. I couldn't re-send the erase command because it thought it was already erased. Thank goodness the phone wasn't stolen, because clearly the feature is absolute trash.

Anyway, yeah. Watch your asses.
 
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Populus said:
True, I hadn’t thought about PIN-protected SIM. In this regard, do you think going eSIM is safer, or at least, equally safe in case of phone theft? Because I’m considering going eSIM with my new iPhone…
Click to expand...
SIM PIN provides good security, like only having 3 attempts at PIN unlock allowed.


Still the possibility is someone attacks the SIM’s security by itself by putting into another machine to probe for vulnerabilities. eSIM is not so easy to put into another machine, but it can be desoldiered and attached to another board, along with other chips needed on the iPhone board. In either case it’s basically a problem only at a high security level against state-sponsored adversaries (ie, CIA, China, or Russia), the average street thief won’t have the SIM-breaking equipment needed for either type of SIM and normal people aren’t important enough for state-actors to go after them.

Personally I actually switched to eSIM this year and haven’t noticed a difference in anything. I did use SIM without a PIN before, I guess I should put the clown makeup on. I haven’t lost a phone yet though.
 
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I lost my iPhone a month ago and when I was able to access another of my devices, I sent the remote wipe command on Find Me. The phone is still showing as “Erase pending” a month on. I also asked my mobile phone operator to disable the SIM as obviously I didn’t want anyone to have access to this. I also changed my Apple ID password.

I will probably never know if the remote wipe has worked particularly as the SIM was disabled not long after initiating the erase command. I am relatively confident nobody could bypass FaceID/PIN entry if the phone was found.

I am slightly apprehensive about the loss as I have no way of telling where my phone is (I went back to the Find My location but no luck) but I just have to hope remote erase kicks in.

Anyone else have a similar experience ?
 
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You can skip 2FA verification by clicking the find my button under the 2FA prompt.
chrome_2022-05-10_21-58-16.bmp


Quick access buttons do not require 2FA, here is what the main screen looks like when you do this
 

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