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just how safe(or unsafe) was it when I entered my Apple ID password before giving phone to Apple Store for battery replacement?

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beerseagulls

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 18, 2021
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just how safe(or unsafe) was it when I entered my Apple ID password before giving phone to Apple Store for battery replacement(free because of AppleCare).

the Apple Store Genius did turn around so he/she couldn't see me type the password, but still.....

at time of drop-off, they said it would be guaranteed ready for pickup 5 hours later.(or if I wanted to wait, it would mean walking around the mall for at least 2 hours)
 
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Did you lock your sensitive apps using the Face ID requirement option?

If you have Stolen Device Protection on, apps that require passwords won't have a passcode fallback option and need Face ID.
 
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maerz001 said:
What answer do you expect ? There is no 100%. u already gave it 99.99% :cool:
Never read here about security problems in apple stores
Click to expand...

are you saying that there are posts here about security problems when Apple devices are repaired at authorized Apple service locations?(such as Best Buy and other?) :(
 
When I booked my phone in for a replacement battery at an Apple Reseller in UK, the instructions said very clearly in more than one place to turn Find My of before bringing it in. And warned that if you didn’t and SDP was on there would be a delay to the replacement.

Turning Find My off does not mean the employees have access to your data.
 
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beerseagulls said:
just how safe(or unsafe) was it when I entered my Apple ID password before giving phone to Apple Store for battery replacement(free because of AppleCare).

the Apple Store Genius did turn around so he/she couldn't see me type the password, but still.....

at time of drop-off, they said it would be guaranteed ready for pickup 5 hours later.(or if I wanted to wait, it would mean walking around the mall for at least 2 hours)
Click to expand...
It was fairly safe Apple staff are trained for privacy, and you entered the password yourself without them watching. Plus, Apple has strict security policies during repairs. You handled it right!
 
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Why is there a need to enter the password when replacing an iPhone battery? Is the same required for replacing a MacBook battery?

I don't understand.

If they are going to run some tests before proceeding with replacing the battery, I would understand if they ask you to enter the code and be allowed to watch them while they do it.
 
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McNads said:
To prevent anyone else from getting service for your device without your knowledge. It is required for all devices being checked in by Apple.
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Sorry I must be really thick..but what does "getting service for your device" mean?
 
Turning off Find My without unlocking your phone is fine. It just means you can't track where it is or remotely wipe it.

Unlocking your phone or telling them your passcode, on the other hand, is problematic. This is not based on possibilities, but there have been arrests made because of such shenanigans.

Those "geniuses" could send all your nak*d pictures to themselves and their friends -- especially if you are hot. The hotter you are, the less safe it is.
 
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antiprotest said:
Turning off Find My without unlocking your phone is fine. It just means you can't track where it is or remotely wipe it.

Unlocking your phone or telling them your passcode, on the other hand, is problematic. This is not based on possibilities, but there have been arrests made because of such shenanigans.

Those "geniuses" could send all your nak*d pictures to themselves and their friends -- especially if you are hot. The hotter you are, the less safe it is.
Click to expand...


my local Apple authorized servicer is a very large tech company. well, 100+ employees qualify as large company, right? they also handle tech for the local 15,000+ student public university and have office inside the university as well.

when dropping off iPads or iPhones, they ALWAYS insist on writing down the passcode(the numeric one, like 112233) from the customers. even if it's just a simple battery replacement under AppleCare. they literally write the passcod on a sticker and stick it to the back of the iPhones. for some odd reason, nobody seemed to complain.... but that's why I no longer go to them and choose to drive more than one hour each way to the nearest Apple Store.

with the passcode, anybody can unlock my iPhone... use my Apple Card in the Wallet app and charge thousands of dollars of stuff.... or worse, open my car's app, locate my car's position, unlock the door and start the engine an drive off.
 
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Hajj.david said:
Most of the time apple just gives you a new phone, so thats why.
Click to expand...

the dudes at the local Apple Store told me that they almost never replace the phone under AppleCare if the only issue was a failed battery. The only exception was when they did not have the battery in the Apple Store and the national warehouse couldn't have one shipped to the Apple Store within 48 hours due to shortage. (which apparently happened somewhat frequently during the pandemic)

Interestingly, they always keep a supply of new replacement batteries for old phones in the back of the Apple Store, even the iPhone 7 and iPhone XS Max..... because quite a few customer are still paying AppleCare on a monthly basis after all these year. (then again, I'm still paying for AppleCare every single month on my old antique iPhone 12 Mini, so who am I to judge?) :)
 
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beerseagulls said:
the dudes at the local Apple Store told me that they almost never replace the phone under AppleCare if the only issue was a failed battery. The only exception was when they did not have the battery in the Apple Store and the national warehouse couldn't have one shipped to the Apple Store within 48 hours due to shortage. (which apparently happened somewhat frequently during the pandemic)

Interestingly, they always keep a supply of new replacement batteries for old phones in the back of the Apple Store, even the iPhone 7 and iPhone XS Max..... because quite a few customer are still paying AppleCare on a monthly basis after all these year. (then again, I'm still paying for AppleCare every single month on my old antique iPhone 12 Mini, so who am I to judge?) :)
Click to expand...


Yeah that's my understanding too. Watches they replace the watch, but phones they replace the battery.
 
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Howard2k said:
Yeah that's my understanding too. Watches they replace the watch, but phones they replace the battery.
Click to expand...

BMW full EV, they replace the full EV.... well... at least that's what they did for my friend's BMW i4. According to the service advisor, it was determined that a replacement(part and intensive labor) was almost 80% of the cost of a new i4, so they(the dealer and BMWUSA) decided to just replace my friend's i4 with another i4 under factory warranty. You would think that my friend was happy. He was not... because his i4 had many custom modifications(including customer leather seat that was shipped to the Netherlands to be upholstered and returned to the US.... BMWUSA didn't pay for those to be redone, obviously)

Edit: just wanted to add this.... imagine what happens after the factory warranty ends and the i4 requires a new battery replacement... my friend will probably trade the car in a few months before that? :)
 
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WilliApple said:
Your battery is linked to Find My. If your phone was linked to Find My during the replacement, the phone would not know what to do with the battery.
Click to expand...
This right here. Your battery is tied to Find My to prevent someone from selling your device for parts. Putting in your battery on another device without find my turned off would present a warning about an unauthorized battery/"Unable to verify a genuine part".
 
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