If your 5s gets stolen, thieves don't even have to deal with Touch ID to unlock it?

[user-name-here]

I thought Apple said the whole thing that is great about Touch ID is that it's great for security as your fingerprint is a password that no one else in the world has.

So if that is true then why is it that if your 5s gets stolen the would be thieves don't have to deal with Touch ID at all? Instead after a certain amount of failed attempts (or phone reboot) the iPhone simply asks for your simple 4 digit password instead of a more secure fingerprint

It seems that if the fingerprint is so much more secure than a 4 digit unlock code like Apple said then the iPhone shouldn't give thieves the option to bypass Touch ID so easily like it does...

 

[jabingla2810]

That isn't what Touch ID is for.

Anytime you can swipe to unlock and enter a 4 digit code anyway.

It's been added because a lot of people aren't adding pass codes because they are a hassle.

 

[woodynorman]

How would the thief know what your 4 digit backup passcode is?? Seems secure to me?

 

[user-name-here]

That isn't what Touch ID is for.

Anytime you can swipe to unlock and enter a 4 digit code anyway.

It's been added because a lot of people aren't adding pass codes because they are a hassle.

Ah, gotcha.

For some reason I thought Touch ID would disable the ability to simply unlock via 4-digit code altogether (if you wanted) and instead always require the fingerprint for added security. Seems like Apple should have added the option to only unlock via fingerprint for those that want this more secure option.

I guess it's more just to help out the lazy ones who didn't want to deal with passcodes in the first place.

 

[siurpeeman]

if thieves steal your iphone, then they have to deal with activation lock.

Losing your iOS device feels lousy. Thankfully, Find My iPhone can help you get it back. But if it looks like that’s not going to happen, new security features in iOS 7 make it harder for anyone who’s not you to use or sell your device. Now turning off Find My iPhone or erasing your device requires your Apple ID and password. Find My iPhone can also continue to display a custom message, even after your device is erased. And your Apple ID and password are required before anyone can reactivate it. Which means your device is still your device. No matter where it is.

 

[CallOfDuty]

Once you have touch ID enabled you will be pretty much using it everytime you unlock your device. Even if thieves stole ur device and they had a chance to bypass touch ID using a passcode they can't because u rarely even use a passcode in the first place?

 

[OVERTASK]

Well the idea is that people will start using passcodes and hopefully they will be longer than the four number ones since they don't have to enter it often because of the Touch ID.

 

[user-name-here]

Well the idea is that people will start using passcodes and hopefully they will be longer than the four number ones since they don't have to enter it often because of the Touch ID.

Ah, I thought that you could only use a 4-digit unlock code (less than ideal security) when using Touch ID. If you can put in a full password to use with it then that helps security wise.

I still don't understand though: Why wouldn't Apple give us the ability to ONLY unlock via fingerprint if that's what we want? Seems like a super simple thing to include in iOS settings and would help give users who want it additional security

 

[Strax]

If your 5s gets stolen, thieves don't even have to deal with Touch ID to unlo...

IF they get past the fingerprint AND have managed to guess your pass code, you should have had plenty of time to use Find My iPhone and put it in Lost Mode, in which case, they can't do anything without your Apple ID password. No reset, no restore, nothing. It's locked down.

If you fail to set up and use Find My iPhone, then you're just going to have to live with the consequences of your actions.

 

[Michael CM1]

IF they get past the fingerprint AND have managed to guess your pass code, you should have had plenty of time to use Find My iPhone and put it in Lost Mode, in which case, they can't do anything without your Apple ID password. No reset, no restore, nothing. It's locked down.

If you fail to set up and use Find My iPhone, then you're just going to have to live with the consequences of your actions.

Someone I work with had no idea about this when she misplaced her phone. I was going to use it to play that bing-bongy sound because I'm pretty sure it works even if the phone is on silent. But no, she had never set it up.

Tip: When a $650 device comes with a "Here I am! Here I am!" function, set it up.

 

[BSDanalyst]

I have a feeling that there will be at least 1 news article about a stolen iphone and someone losing their thumb.

 

[smoothisfast]

You could turn off the simple password and use a long more random password.

If the finger print ID is bypassed you would have to type in the long password.

 

[toohectic]

Even if you use a simple 4-digit password, you have to remember that you only get a limited number of attempts before the phone locks you out. So with 10000 options for a simple password, it's still relatively secure to brute force attempts. With a complex alphanumeric password/phrase, it'll be even better.

 

[Strax]

Well, I drink tea, not Kool-Aid, so I'll just be sticking with my perfectly functional 4 and not have to worry about anyone coveting my thumbs.

 

[acctman]

I thought Apple said the whole thing that is great about Touch ID is that it's great for security as your fingerprint is a password that no one else in the world has.

So if that is true then why is it that if your 5s gets stolen the would be thieves don't have to deal with Touch ID at all? Instead after a certain amount of failed attempts (or phone reboot) the iPhone simply asks for your simple 4 digit password instead of a more secure fingerprint

It seems that if the fingerprint is so much more secure than a 4 digit unlock code like Apple said then the iPhone shouldn't give thieves the option to bypass Touch ID so easily like it does...

there is more to it than that. you will also need the original AppleID username/pass to gain access back into the phone, this is part of iOS7. So even if you do a remote wipe the thief will not be able to use the phone without knowing your original user/pass.

 

[zipa]

Seems like Apple should have added the option to only unlock via fingerprint for those that want this more secure option.

Not sure how "secure" a fingerprint reader is on a touchscreen device that will literally be covered by the very same fingerprint that is needed to unlock the device...

 

[Daveoc64]

Seems like Apple should have added the option to only unlock via fingerprint for those that want this more secure option.

Fingerprint readers just can't be 100% reliable.

There are too many scenarios where it won't work, and you need a backup.

 

[steveza]

I have a feeling that there will be at least 1 news article about a stolen iphone and someone losing their thumb.

... and what would they do once they have said thumb? They would still need to know your passcode to change the one that you set.

 

[ant1298]

Quick question then...activation lock works when doing a restore and wipe etc. What happens if the thief does a DFU restore?

Anthony

 

[madsci954]

... and what would they do once they have said thumb? They would still need to know your passcode to change the one that you set.

And Activation Lock will prevent the thief from wiping and activating the phone again.

 

[Okes]

... and what would they do once they have said thumb? They would still need to know your passcode to change the one that you set.

I'd guess you might be in a co-operative mood with facing losing your thumb and give up your passcode?

 

[Daveoc64]

And Activation Lock will prevent the thief from wiping and activating the phone again.

As the name implies, Activation Lock is triggered at activation.

As such, any sort of restore or reset of the device where activation is required will require the iCloud account details.

 

[legioxi]

Quick question then...activation lock works when doing a restore and wipe etc. What happens if the thief does a DFU restore?

Anthony

They can't activate the fresh phone without your iTunes account.

 

[steveza]

I'd guess you might be in a co-operative mood with facing losing your thumb and give up your passcode?

My point exactly, what they need is a passcode so chopping your thumb off serves no purpose other than escalating the charge from theft to aggravated assault.

 

[AdeFowler]

Well, I drink tea, not Kool-Aid, so I'll just be sticking with my perfectly functional 4 and not have to worry about anyone coveting my thumbs.

Not sure how "secure" a fingerprint reader is on a touchscreen device that will literally be covered by the very same fingerprint that is needed to unlock the device...

The sensor will only detect live skin. Some people have been watching too many movies.