IPhone Security?

[pauly1]

Hey all. What security can you put on your iphone in case something happens to it such as it gets lost or stolen? Or if someone just uses it and has access to it.


I'm assuming the passcode is probably the number 1 thing right? And even if you put that, does that mean there is no way someone else can check or hack your iphone if they have access to it? Also i noticed you have the option of a fingerprint or passcode. If thats the case, which one is better. However couldn't someone use trial and error on it? Or after a certain amount of attempts, it gets locked or something like that? Thus theres like 999,999 different possible codes.


The other thing would be Find my iphone right? And if so, couldn't the other person close that off? Or is that not possible at all if you have a passcode? But what if someone turns off your iphone or takes off your battery etc?


Also if you locate it, where do you locate it from? Im assuming from your icloud account etc?


The other thing that is a bit confusing is say your iphone got lost or stolen. You could report it to apple right even without warranty? And if so, what can they do? Of course you would call your cell provider to cancel your service? Or would you suspend it for now? Or is that the same thing?


But when you contact apple about this, what happens to your iphone? Is it true that the iphone gets locked and not useable? I mean, i assume that person who has the iphone could still use it for web browsing via wifi right? Or could they not even do that. Or does that iphone become not usable? That wouldnt make sense at all though since they could probably go and unlock it somehow? So im curious what would happen to an iphone when this happens.


Also what if you click on suspicious links on your iphone with your safari browser? Say its a virus or trojan. If you do this on a computer, your computer can get infected. But what about an iphone? And if so, does that mean anything important on your iphone can get hacked etc? For example i read if you download torrent or exe files i believe... you could get your computer hacked etc. But an iphone... i recall you cannot get viruses on it. Or is that on a mac computer?

 

[eyoungren]

Hey all. What security can you put on your iphone in case something happens to it such as it gets lost or stolen? Or if someone just uses it and has access to it.

Passcode, Touch ID, Find My iPhone. iCloud Activation Lock.

If you hand someone your iPhone while it's unlocked then all bets are off.

I'm assuming the passcode is probably the number 1 thing right? And even if you put that, does that mean there is no way someone else can check or hack your iphone if they have access to it? Also i noticed you have the option of a fingerprint or passcode. If thats the case, which one is better. However couldn't someone use trial and error on it? Or after a certain amount of attempts, it gets locked or something like that? Thus theres like 999,999 different possible codes.

For some people a passcode is preferred. For others, it's Touch ID.

Given enough time anyone, even yourself if you forget your passcode, can hack the device. There are settings for your passcode whereby if 'X' attempts are made the device locks and if 'X' attempts are made the device wipes the data on the phone.

Even with both of those settings off after a certain number of failed attempts the device will 'lock'. It means waiting a certain time period before the phone allows you to try entering a new passcode.

I prefer to use a passcode. Based on current US legal case law, law enforcement officers can legally compel you to unlock a device using your fingerprint. Passcodes cannot legally be compelled from you to unlock your device.

The other thing would be Find my iphone right? And if so, couldn't the other person close that off? Or is that not possible at all if you have a passcode? But what if someone turns off your iphone or takes off your battery etc?

To turn off Find My iPhone a couple of steps must be taken. First the device must be unlocked. So, your passcode or Touch ID would have to be defeated. Second, to actually turn Find My iPhone off the password for your Apple ID is required. If that is unknown, you cannot turn off Find My iPhone once it's been enabled.

This is all about protecting your data from the common thief. Most thieves do not have the knowledge, the tools and time necessary to remove your logicboard, hook your device up to something that can read the flash memory AND the software necessary to break the encryption on your data (once you have a passcode set, your data on the phone becomes encrypted).
If someone goes to these lengths to get YOUR data then you are not the average citizen.

Also if you locate it, where do you locate it from? Im assuming from your icloud account etc?

You use Find My iPhone (it's an app) either on a different device or through a web browser. Both will give you options on what you can do with a located phone.

The other thing that is a bit confusing is say your iphone got lost or stolen. You could report it to apple right even without warranty? And if so, what can they do? Of course you would call your cell provider to cancel your service? Or would you suspend it for now? Or is that the same thing?

Reporting your lost or stolen phone to Apple won't do anything for you. That's like reporting your car having been stolen to the manufacturer of your car and not the police and insurance company.

Apple cannot do anything except advise you to contact the police (if the phone is stolen).

Yes, you would call your carrier. They have the IMEI of your device and would blacklist it. That means it would not get service.

But when you contact apple about this, what happens to your iphone? Is it true that the iphone gets locked and not useable? I mean, i assume that person who has the iphone could still use it for web browsing via wifi right? Or could they not even do that. Or does that iphone become not usable? That wouldnt make sense at all though since they could probably go and unlock it somehow? So im curious what would happen to an iphone when this happens.

Apple isn't going to do anything for you. Contacting your carrier as I mentioned above will get the IMEI blacklisted.

To use your device on WiFi it would need to be unlocked (assuming you have Touch ID or a passcode set). Whomever stole it would have to break into it. Earlier I mentioned that if someone is going to go to the lengths necessary to do this then you are not the average citizen.

Usually phones like this end up being used for parts.

Also what if you click on suspicious links on your iphone with your safari browser? Say its a virus or trojan. If you do this on a computer, your computer can get infected. But what about an iphone? And if so, does that mean anything important on your iphone can get hacked etc? For example i read if you download torrent or exe files i believe... you could get your computer hacked etc. But an iphone... i recall you cannot get viruses on it. Or is that on a mac computer?

While there have been reported viruses for the iPhone these are rare and the kinds of things online are mainly designed to affect computers and not cellphones.

EXE files can not be run on an iPhone. iOS is based on UNIX. Windows executable files do not run natively on UNIX systems.