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Touch ID after a reboot

Pagemakers

Pagemakers

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Mar 28, 2008
2,948
1,224
Manchester UK
After rebooting why is it necessary to have to re-enter my password when I have Touch ID.

It can't be for security purposes because entering a four digit password is far less secure than using my fingerprint.
 
Your fingerprint key cannot be accessed without your pass code as your pass code is entangled with the system key. Once you've entered your pass code, iOS is able to access the fingerprint key.
 
Yes, it is for security reasons.

Finger prints can be lifted from the sensor, so, not fool proof.

When phone boots, passwords, encryption keys, finger prints, etc. are still locked/encrypted on the phone, and one of the keys used to lock-down/encrypt these items on a powered off device is the passcode. So, need to put in the passcode to unlock all the security items.
 
Pagemakers said:
It can't be for security purposes because entering a four digit password is far less secure than using my fingerprint.
Click to expand...

Then don't use a 4 digit password :roll eyes: I honestly feel like :apple: should have removed the option of 4 digit passwords on devices with touchID.
 
I hear what you say but I don't agree about the security aspect. It's far easier to guess a 4 digit code then chopping off one of my fingers to gain access.

That said, I use Exchange with work and my company forces a complex password using uppercase, lowercase, numbers and symbols that must be changed monthly.

It's a real pain in the butt having to enter it on every reboot especially since iOS 8 needs so much rebooting!
 
Pagemakers said:
It's far easier to guess a 4 digit code then chopping off one of my fingers to gain access.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's not, because you can only enter the wrong code a few times before the phone starts making you wait longer between codes. After ten incorrect attempts you're up to an hour before the next attempt.

So good luck with that. :)
 
Pagemakers said:
I hear what you say but I don't agree about the security aspect. It's far easier to guess a 4 digit code then chopping off one of my fingers to gain access.
Click to expand...

Why would someone chop off one of your fingers if they have your phone and they have you?
 
Yakibomb said:
Then don't use a 4 digit password :roll eyes: I honestly feel like :apple: should have removed the option of 4 digit passwords on devices with touchID.
Click to expand...

On devices without TouchID, it's inconvenient to have to enter a long password so often, so many users will stick with the 4-digit option.

On TouchID devices, however, there's little inconvenience in entering a longer password after a reboot. One of the first things I did on my iPhone 5s was to switch to a much more secure password, now that I have the convenience of the TouchID.
 
LV426 said:
On TouchID devices, however, there's little inconvenience in entering a longer password after a reboot. One of the first things I did on my iPhone 5s was to switch to a much more secure password, now that I have the convenience of the TouchID.
Click to expand...

I did exactly the same. Unfortunately people seem to always favor convenience over security
 
Pagemakers said:
After rebooting why is it necessary to have to re-enter my password when I have Touch ID.

It can't be for security purposes because entering a four digit password is far less secure than using my fingerprint.
Click to expand...

It is for security purposes. The encryption keys for your fingerprints are flushed out of memory when you restart.
 
Yakibomb said:
Then don't use a 4 digit password :roll eyes: I honestly feel like :apple: should have removed the option of 4 digit passwords on devices with touchID.
Click to expand...


Benefit to keeping the 4 digit code..... law enforcement can't force you to enter your passcode however can have you unlock via using your fingerprint. So remember to reboot before being cuffed and stuffed!
 
cdembek said:
Benefit to keeping the 4 digit code..... law enforcement can't force you to enter your passcode however can have you unlock via using your fingerprint. So remember to reboot before being cuffed and stuffed!
Click to expand...

I'm not saying remove the 4 Digit pin and only have TouchID, rather I'm saying remove the 4 Digit pin and have "complex" pins instead

But thats some sound advice ;)
 
It's a security measure. Someone could steal your phone and turn it off. I guess they just want to make sure you're there when it's turned on.

Though the idea of needing initial system decryption with your passcode to access the secure enclave sounds plausible.
 
Anyone who has info worth chopping a finger off for shouldn't be storing it on their phone.....
 
its even more annoying that u always have to enter the password the first time u try to buy somethin gat the appstore after a reboot like give me a break it already asked me to put it in after a reboot why ask for it again to purchase something. it makes the whole pay with touchid at the appstore redundant
 
cdembek said:
Benefit to keeping the 4 digit code..... law enforcement can't force you to enter your passcode however can have you unlock via using your fingerprint. So remember to reboot before being cuffed and stuffed!
Click to expand...
Using the wrong finger will force a code requirement after four attempts.

It ignores even the correct finger after that.
 
bushido said:
its even more annoying that u always have to enter the password the first time u try to buy somethin gat the appstore after a reboot like give me a break it already asked me to put it in after a reboot why ask for it again to purchase something. it makes the whole pay with touchid at the appstore redundant
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more!!! I never get to use touch id to download apps because I don't typically download more than one app a day. I typically run my battery down each day and charge over night. Every time I go to download an app, it's the first time since a reboot. It's frustrating because I was looking forward to this feature and I never get to take advantage of it. Seems like a waste of such great technology. Wish this could be an option. Still not clear why touch id is all of a sudden less secure than a finger print just because I rebooted.
 
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