iOS 7's Activation Lock Feature Helping Reduce iPhone Theft in Three Major Cities

[milkrocket]

Activation Lock is really really good at what it does.

I know a few people who "black-market" iPhones in India. Have tons of "Locked" phones. Cant do anything. Screens are not worth that much. Only other part is the battery and other small cables etc.

Even the "pro's" can't do much with these phones. I for one am very glad about this tech. Tracked my phone and a friends iPad with this.

 

[Reason077]

Probably nothing. Thieves or other people can't use it unless they have your Apple ID credentials.

Or unless they have some basic "hacker skillz". iCloud activation (including Activation lock) can now be bypassed.

Hopefully Apple will make it more secure in a future iOS update, though.

 

[DELLsFan]

I wish iOS had an option to enter the passcode to turn off the phone. Now, thieves can't turn off the device and just wait for "Find My iPhone" to track them down.

This is great. Also, there needs to be a "duress passcode" that you would enter (that you create) that seemingly unlocks the phone, but alerts law enforcement that you've been forced to hand over your iPhone and password (under duress). Until the pass code is entered again, you cannot turn off the device.

 

[gnasher729]

So if an iPhone is reported stolen and thus black listed or whatever, can the iPhone be used as an iPod Touch? Or is it totally dead?

Totally dead. To be able to use an iPhone as an iPod Touch, you need a SIM card and you need to activate the phone; if it is protected with AppleID + Password then you absolutely need to enter that AppleID + Password, and there is no way around it. Note that you need the SIM card _only_ at the time when you activate the iPhone and not afterwards, so you can take the SIM card from another iPhone and probably even from another phone, activate the iPhone, move the SIM card back to the other phone. In the UK, you'd probably buy a pre-paid SIM card for £10 so that you have an iPod Touch that can make phone calls in an emergency, or can get on the internet if you really have to.

However, this has _nothing_ to do with the iPhone being reported stolen and blacklisted. When it's stolen, it's too late. _Before_ you let someone steal your iPhone, you register it with "Find my iPhone". Once that is done, you can track where your iPhone is (unless it is turned off or reset, so this helps you find a phone that you left at a friend's place, for example), and you can wipe your phone, so whoever has it will need your AppleID + Password to use it and has no chance to steal any secret data on the phone.

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Or unless they have some basic "hacker skillz". iCloud activation (including Activation lock) can now be bypassed.

Hopefully Apple will make it more secure in a future iOS update, though.

I'd like to see evidence.

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How should users reboot their iPhone when it's completely frozen? It doesn't happen often but when it does, hardware reset is the only solution.

No problem. It goes to the activation screen, and there you enter the AppleId and password.

 

[Zxxv]

lol, what if i do not know my wife's passcode and i am carrying her phone in a flight?

Just put it on silent mode via the side switch. Who will know? And planes don't crash because of mobile phones being on. If they did terrorists would have done it by now as it's be easiest way.

 

[DELLsFan]

I'm not sure this actually happens. Thieves are by their nature lazy, ergo, no job, and prone to going after the low hanging fruit. If you make something so difficult as to not be profitable for them, they're going to move on to easier prey.

I agree, generally. However, iPhone theft is a bit higher caliber a skillset than simply a smash and grab. Thieves watch houses, determine occupancy averages, and have even pretended to be a utility technician or mailman to get you to open your door. Unless you are prepared to defend your property and life, both are always at risk.

 

[Reason077]

if it is protected with AppleID + Password then you absolutely need to enter that AppleID + Password, and there is no way around it.

Nope. Not true at present. At least until Apple fix iCloud activation to make it more secure.

I'd like to see evidence.

I won't post links, but the hack is called "DoulCi".

Currently it requires Windows because it relies on exploiting a flaw in the Windows version of iTunes, but apparently a standalone version (which will work on Mac) exists in beta form.

It was reported previously here: https://www.macrumors.com/2014/05/21/hackers-icloud-locking-compromise/

 

[peterdevries]

That would actually be really smart considering you can't take out the battery. Atleast, not relatively easily...might submit this idea to Apple.

You need a way to do a hard reset. There have been instances where my iPhone was frozen and that would be the only remedy. A software problem could totally brick the iPhone if you need a passcode to turn it off.

 

[seecoolguy]

Pointless, if thieves are still able to remove the sim card!!

If you activate lost mode on your phone it will lockout the phone when the device gets on wifi or a new carrier. ( assuming the phone is unlocked )

 

[Kenn Marks]

No SIM card necessary

Pointless, if thieves are still able to remove the sim card!!

The SIM card is only used to debit your account for minutes and data used. All iPhones can still access the cellular network without a SIM card to make emergency calls (911) therefore also report Location data to Apple "Find my iPhone".

 

[Tiger8]

I wish iOS had an option to enter the passcode to turn off the phone. Now, thieves can't turn off the device and just wait for "Find My iPhone" to track them down.

Honestly, this is one of the best ideas I heard. You should seriously consider submitting it to Apple! Really clever. It would be even better if it immediately locks your phone too. So for example, say you have 'require pin' in 15 minutes, and someone steals your phone while it's still unlocked (the 12th minute or so), as soon as they hold the power button and 'slide to power off', it requires the pin like you said. If they change their mind and no longer want to shut it off, they no longer can use it since the phone now locked itself after the attempt to shut down.

For over a decade now, Windows Server editions can be configured to require a password (and a reason) before you shut down or restart a server. Enter your pin as soon as you slide power off would be great!

 

[kazmac]

Glad to hear this is actually making a difference.

 

[Daveoc64]

This is available on every network across the globe, however it only render the handset 'useless' in its native country, and can be used perfectly normally elsewhere. Ie a UK network barred handset can be used anywhere other than the UK with no limitations.

That's not correct.

There's a global register of stolen devices to which all UK networks subscribe (and supply data).

Most Western European countries subscribe to the same database.

The US has lagged behind in this area for a long time.

The SIM card is only used to debit your account for minutes and data used. All iPhones can still access the cellular network without a SIM card to make emergency calls (911) therefore also report Location data to Apple "Find my iPhone".

Emergency calls are handled as a special case from any other type of phone call. When you dial an emergency number (such as 112 or 911) the phone enters a special mode and will scan all networks that it can "see" in order to place the call.

In theory, this allows phones to place emergency calls when there is no SIM in the device or when the customer's carrier has no service, BUT you'll find that most carriers in the world will reject emergency calls when there is no SIM, and in some places they will only accept emergency calls from their own customers.

So... what you say wouldn't work (because Find My iPhone is not an emergency call).

Oh really... Since you are sounding a bit arrogant here, name one such place where such a law exists and a cite for it, because it is not the least bit believable.

I haven't got a citation for it, but I did see it mentioned one of the previous times this idea was suggested. I don't think that the GSM spec would allow such an action, and deviation from the GSM spec is illegal in most of Europe.

 

[Pakaku]

Is a good step forward.
I’m wondering what those that relieve people of iPhones will think of next.

Back in the days when car theft was easy you’d wake up in the morning to find your driveway empty. Thieves now have to break into your house to get the keys which is potentially more worrying!!!!

Whether or not someone might break into your house now is an entirely separate problem, and was probably not considered about at the time of the solution to easy car-jacking, which is technically a fixed problem due to the fact that someone may need to take more effort to do so by breaking in your house in the first place.

 

[weckart]

Maybe iPhones are 24% less desirable than last year regardless of any safety locks. Prices for 2nd hand phones on the High St have dropped a fair bit from what I can see.

 

[827538]

Oh really... Since you are sounding a bit arrogant here, name one such place where such a law exists and a cite for it, because it is not the least bit believable.

Have to agree with this, is everyone forgetting prior to iOS 6? I would have to enter my password and go into settings to enable flight mode. Also didn't the FAA just start allowing devices to be left switched on during the whole flight?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

i don't get it. If my iphone is lost or stolen what happen to it?

The thieves bundle them up and export them to Hollywood where they are used as props in movies and TV shows.

 

[DriedTurnip]

that's actually pretty smart. amazing.

Duh, and what happens when a software fault or OS install causes a lock-up? I don't really fancy waiting 12 hours till the battery drains.

 

[unplugme71]

Or they could use Control Center to turn Airplane Mode on from the lock screen.





It's not all that smart (it's been thought of many times before and dismissed for a range of reasons) and it would almost certainly be illegal in some places. For safety reasons, you need to be able to turn off a device which contains radios without requiring a password.

Exactly why there's an option to disable this in Settings.

 

[blacksurfer]

Just write your number on a small sticky and tape behind your phone. honest people will call you to return it

 

[unplugme71]

lol, what if i do not know my wife's passcode and i am carrying her phone in a flight?

Fly on an airline that allows you to have your device on.

 

[JHankwitz]

It's all nice and good. The part I dislike a lot is the inability to contact the owner of the device himself letting him know you got his phone and that you're willing to return it back.

It's easy enough to drop a found phone off at a local Police Station. Be sure to give your name etc. and where you found the phone, and to put it on a charger so the owner can locate it for a long time.

 

[unplugme71]

The hackers or the victims? I don't see why the victims deserve that. The hackers deserved to have their phones hacked, and much worse things...

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Activation Lock invalidates the point of stealing the phone anyway. There's nothing to be done with a locked iPhone. The only reason to disable the power button would be to increase the chances of successfully tracking the thief, but the thief shouldn't have any reason to steal the phone in the first place.

Also, Find My iPhone is kinda wimpy. I want something that not only shows where it is but where it's been Boom, stolen iPhone trade center in China located. Yes, those exist. I know because my dad's iPhone was left in a taxi while it was running a tracking app in the background.

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Good point. The SIM card is easy to remove. They can't Activation Lock that. As another poster mentioned, there's also airplane mode in Control Center. I wouldn't want a passcode required to toggle that.

And you'd be the same person that would complain my battery does after 30 min.

While I don't care about a GPS trail for my privacy, I guess it wouldn't hurt to ping the phone once per hour.

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It's all nice and good. The part I dislike a lot is the inability to contact the owner of the device himself letting him know you got his phone and that you're willing to return it back.

I don't get it why apple ID account email is hidden and thus preventing you from emailing the person, other than that there is no other information available.

There could at least be an option or a button or something to send an email to the email address mentioned it can be a message that you send without actually seeing the recipients full email address, I mean an ability to provide your contact information so that the owner himself could contact you.

I would be more than happy to return the phone that I found a few days ago while traveling in Isreal, based on sim card inside it belongs to T-Mobile USA customer, I tired calling them, but no luck there, basically told me I can keep the phone, sim has been deactivated and they no record of the customer any longer.

I'll try calling Apple today, not expecting much but this is the last thing I can come up with.

So as you understand I'd be more than happy to return the phone back to the original owner but as of now all my efforts failed.

My point is, although it's good and welcome but the system is far from perfect and simple things as ability to simply let the owner know you got his phone would make quite a few unfortunate fellows happy as well as those who are doing their best to return the thing back life a lot easier.

It's for security. Personally, it'd be nice if there be a button that says I found your phone. It relays to apple to send you an email, a text (if a backup phone is set), and a push notification on your mac or other device tied to iCloud. That way you retain privacy and prevent threats.

It should allow you to reply back to your device to arrange a time and place so it's in a public area where everyone can be safer.

 

[14268220]

I wish iOS had an option to enter the passcode to turn off the phone. Now, thieves can't turn off the device and just wait for "Find My iPhone" to track them down.

There is a jailbroken app I use called iCaughtU. I't disables airplane mode in lock screen, stops people from turning off your phone unless you have unlocked it. It also sends you an email and a partnered phone a text message if a person is trying to turn your phone off. It gives you a selfie shot using the camera and location via GPS. Really cleaver. Except if your thief is half tech savvy they can use the hard resent (lock plus home).

I tell you what would be more cleaver. Is if your phone pretends its off while sending you email locations of your phone.

 

[KazKam]

Logical Fallacy

The logical fallacy of this headline and article is: False Cause

"Many people confuse correlation (things happening together or in sequence) for causation (that one thing actually causes the other to happen). Sometimes correlation is coincidental, or it may be attributable to a common cause.

Example: Pointing to a fancy chart, Roger shows how temperatures have been rising over the past few centuries, whilst at the same time the numbers of pirates have been decreasing; thus pirates cool the world and global warming is a hoax."

There could be any number or combination of reasons for the decline in thefts. For instance, market saturation... Many of the douchebags who would steal or buy a smartphone already have one by now.

Unless the people making these claims interviewed all the phone thieves in those cities, there's no way they can state what the cause of the decline is with any degree of certainty. It's just an assumption.