San Francisco District Attorney Impressed by iOS 7's Activation Lock Feature

[charlituna]

Do you normally ride the NYC subway? Have you ever ridden the NYC subway?

I ride it Monday through Friday, to and from my office. I am always carrying my iPad mini (and full sized iPad before that), which I use for reading during the ride.

Odd, no one has even given me a second look, much less accosted me threatening death or dismemberment for my iPad.

I see lots of other riders doing the same as I.

Amazing how some people love to dramatize situations which are not really all that dramatic.

Los Angeles, New York, London and the elevated in Chicago. Same thing, the only time I don't have it out is rush hour when the cars are packed cause of the risk of dropping it"

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Oh please. You haven't read at all what Apple is doing, have you? There's no kill switch. But whoever wants to use the iPhone, needs to know _your_ AppleID and _your_ password, and there is absolutely no way around it. Wiping the phone won't help at all.

If the phone won't get past the iTunes activation, which is what this blocks, then it is in effect a kill switch.

 

[inlinevolvo]

Really? I haven't seen that to be the case at all, but let's say that this is indeed true.

Why is it Apple's responsibility to combat theft? There is a lot of TV theft out there, but I don't see people calling on Vizio, Sharp, etc. to combat that. Why not? Because it's not their responsibility, that is the customer's responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect their property. It is also the job of the police to recover stolen goods.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/2818488

 

[HD12]

That's a very uninformed and ignorant statement. As long as you save the ipsw file you can go back to iOS 6 anytime from iOS 7, unless or until they update the baseband.

Actually you can only go back to IOS 6.1.3/6.1.4(Iphone 5) because IOs 7 is still in beta. Try to go any lower on any A5 device and see where that gets you, however you can go back even to ios 4 if you have the shsh blobs on tiny umbrella on the iphone 4 and the iphone 3gs

 

[Arcus]

Yeah the phone companies should be responsible for fixing this. That way we don't have to prosecute the criminals as usual.

So do you remove the locks from your car and house?

 

[mw360]

.
Excuse me.

What is the black border around the second iPhone picture. Is it part of the UI? Or hardware? Really does not look good at all.

Its hardware and its been like that on every iPhone, iPad and touchscreen iPod.

 

[tbrinkma]

That's a very uninformed and ignorant statement. As long as you save the ipsw file you can go back to iOS 6 anytime from iOS 7, unless or until they update the baseband.

Are you proposing that a phone thief will have the iOS 6 ipsw file signed for the stolen iPhone that had iOS 7 installed when it was stolen?

 

[inlinevolvo]

Are you proposing that a phone thief will have the iOS 6 ipsw file signed for the stolen iPhone that had iOS 7 installed when it was stolen?

If you haven't noticed, all examples have been extreme cases. One guy even compared phone theft to modern day TV theft...

 

[moobatticus]

Los Angeles, New York, London and the elevated in Chicago. Same thing, the only time I don't have it out is rush hour when the cars are packed cause of the risk of dropping it"

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If the phone won't get past the iTunes activation, which is what this blocks, then it is in effect a kill switch.

^ That exactly. However you'd need to get people to have increased awareness of security, better pass codes, when the device goes on lock, when the pass code is required.

So, you may be on public transit, in the street, or paying at a checkout till when it gets nicked. All of those scenarios, are, if the system is going to work going to have to be backed up by better user understanding of security. Guess we'll have to see just how 'fool proof' it is when the final release comes out.

A nice option might be to have it pass code lock when you leave specified geo-fenced areas. But if there's a thumb print lock, then, well.

If someone holds a gun to your head, you give them your wallet, yes? If they say, put the pass code in, you do. It won't stop that, but it'll stop so much more of the casual thefts. Although thieves are thick, as in thick as...

 

[iChrist]

Its hardware and its been like that on every iPhone, iPad and touchscreen iPod.

Poor hardware design then.

That black border could easily be better covered by the top glass. Sloppy oversight in my opinion.

 

[Geckotek]

Each generation of iPhone i have lost or had stolen, so what?

Just buy another one... or have phone insurance..

If you don't have a good job and cant afford another one then maybe your phone shouldn't be your main focus, try saving for flat/house instead.

That makes absolutely no sense. Just because I can afford to replace an iPhone, doesn't mean I shouldn't take every precaution to prevent it's loss....and that includes technology the manufacturer can put in place to help prevent it's loss. Your statement is ludicrous and irresponsible.

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Yes they do! lawyers, city officials, executives, always trying to get free stuff.

Everyone is always TRYING to get free stuff, but to assume his report was swayed because he got a free iPhone is just paranoid and stupid.

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yeah, correct: that's in UK alone!

If a criminal won't be able to use the phone except when security feature is disabled, then they will make you disable it. Not sure how that will reduce crime.

If the security feature can't be disabled, then you've lost control of your phone to the manufacturer.

rock > you are here < hard place

Another ludicrous statement. Thieves want in and out....they won't sit around waiting. And losing control of your phone??? nope.

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Whatever you think. I know I can do it, and that's all that matters...

So you're saying you can downgrade to iOS 5 right now?

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They got it for free, sell it to a fence for even $50 and they are up in the game.

A fence won't give $50 for a phone that's only good for spare parts.

 

[KPOM]

Really? I haven't seen that to be the case at all, but let's say that this is indeed true.

Why is it Apple's responsibility to combat theft? There is a lot of TV theft out there, but I don't see people calling on Vizio, Sharp, etc. to combat that. Why not? Because it's not their responsibility, that is the customer's responsibility to take reasonable measures to protect their property. It is also the job of the police to recover stolen goods.

It's not Apple's responsibility per se to combat theft, but they are doing customers a service by building in these capabilities. Just as cars come with keys and alarms, phones with built-in tracking and locking capabilities make a lot of sense. Theft of phones is a big problem in lots of cities (New York and Chicago are prime examples). In essesnce, these are $650-$850 pocket computers. They are easy to carry around, and easy to have stolen in a mugging. Plus, unlike with jewelry they already have the technology built in to make adding the feature possible (CPU, tracking technology, etc.).

 

[mw360]

Poor hardware design then.

That black border could easily be better covered by the top glass. Sloppy oversight in my opinion.

I did a little Google image searching. Funnily enough most marketing departments agree with you and promotional art for white Samsung, LG and Blackberry phones show borderless screens, but actual photos of the same phones show black borders just like the Apple gear.

Since Apple proudly display their black border and everybody else photoshops it out, I would conclude that Apple's border is a design feature, and everybody else's is a flaw.

 

[tbrinkma]

If you haven't noticed, all examples have been extreme cases. One guy even compared phone theft to modern day TV theft...

That's the thing, though. It's not an 'extreme case'. It's a 'case' that only exists if the owner, or someone who uses the owner's computer is the thief.

 

[rdlink]

Are you proposing that a phone thief will have the iOS 6 ipsw file signed for the stolen iPhone that had iOS 7 installed when it was stolen?

Not at all. I think the activation lock is a very good solution, although it will likely take a generation or two of releases before it starts to have a deterrence effect on thieves.

I was just making a technical statement about going back on an OS.

 

[Geckotek]

Not at all. I think the activation lock is a very good solution, although it will likely take a generation or two of releases before it starts to have a deterrence effect on thieves.

I was just making a technical statement about going back on an OS.

But that technical statement is incorrect.

 

[gnasher729]

If the phone won't get past the iTunes activation, which is what this blocks, then it is in effect a kill switch.

It's not a kill switch. If the owner thought it was stolen, but then finds it hidden behind the sofa with an empty battery, a kill switch would mean a dead phone. In this case, they have their phone back and working.

 

[sk1wbw]

There has been plenty done about car thefts.
Registered serial numbers on the vehicle body and engine (the vin number).

Standard door locks.

Electronically chipped keys.

Anti theft alarms.

Anti theft steering wheel locks.

It would be helpful if you could educate yourself on how far the industry has come, before making such a remark. All these measures help prevent car theft. Eliminating car theft would require eliminating civil liberties and the first amendment. Do don't bother making that counter argument.

This may be true, but they still get stolen. Door locks? Please. I can get into pretty much any car on the road in under a minute. Believe me, it's easier than you think.

 

[Geckotek]

This may be true, but they still get stolen. Door locks? Please. I can get into pretty much any car on the road in under a minute. Believe me, it's easier than you think.

But that's not the point. You are the exception. Theft prevention keeps the petty thieves at bay and will slow down the rash of thefts that exist. With no prevention, things will continue to escalate. Just because someone can get around a theft deterrent is not a valid excuse not too implement one at all.

 

[sk1wbw]

But that's not the point. You are the exception. Theft prevention keeps the petty thieves at bay and will slow down the rash of thefts that exist. With no prevention, things will continue to escalate. Just because someone can get around a theft deterrent is not a valid excuse not too implement one at all.

You guys are completely missing the point. We are talking about a phone, something that doesn't have door locks or steering wheel locks or alarms on it. Stopping theft of a phone is a damn near impossibility and it's absurd to hold the manufacturer responsible to preventing theft of these items.

 

[lastcall]

Hackers will defeat this by setting up their own fake activation server. No need to contact Apple.
They already did that once with in-app purchases.

 

[macs4nw]

I don't see how phone theft/loss is any kind of issue that warrants District Attorneys, governments, and phone manufacturers to somehow deter it.....

In this case, it's a welcome and overdue initiative.

.....Don't lose your phone.....This topic has been talked about for over a year and it always is made to sound like a band of criminals is following you down the street waiting to knock you unconscious and steal your phone. Not in the USA...and not in most civilized countries.

Read the statistics of snatch-and-run thefts going on in public places of many large cities, even right here!

 

[Geckotek]

You guys are completely missing the point. We are talking about a phone, something that doesn't have door locks or steering wheel locks or alarms on it. Stopping theft of a phone is a damn near impossibility and it's absurd to hold the manufacturer responsible to preventing theft of these items.

Nobody is holding the manufacturer responsible. However, they have provided this feature. Why the hell would you worry about it or turn it away???

I do not for the life of me understand those that are complaining about this.

 

[moxin]

that is what Apple can do, add a new feature and keep it simple. Instant hit.

 

[Geckotek]

Hackers will defeat this by setting up their own fake activation server. No need to contact Apple.
They already did that once with in-app purchases.

You don't think the security team they hired to test it thought of that? I guess it's possible, but seeing how it's an existing vulnerability, I'm guessing they would have tried it.

 

[SteveyAppleSeed]

Useless...

Not entirely, but still...

No passcode prompt when attempting to shut off device?

Zzzzzzzzzz