iphone theft

[Mike6567]

The man at the apple shop assured me these motorbike thieves end up with an unusable iphone if uou use the "find my iphone" facility and then lock or erase.

I suppose if it is stolen while in use the phone is useable as passcode has been used but if not he said the passcode is unbreakable.

Is this correct and if so what is the point in stealing the phone?

[Evanelpus]

Is this correct and if so what is the point in stealing the phone?

Because the scum that does this kind of thing are the lowest of the low, pond life!

End of the news..............

[BAengineer]

Even a locked cellphone has value. There are many companies who claim to be able to bypass the activation lock and if you do a search on ebay you find many phones advertised (and selling) where they are locked.

The "find my iphone" idea is fine for removing your personal data but it doesn't render the actual handset worthless.

[Carbon Bootprint]

Google “iPhone jailbreak” for a glimpse into what can be done with a locked down iPhone, whether the lock has been applied by Apple, the cell carrier, and/or the end user.

[SpringHeeledJack]

I'm sure that there's a value to unscrupulous second-hand phone companies to disassemble the stolen phones for parts, assuming that said stolen phone is in good condition.

[jimjim1]

Even a locked cellphone has value. There are many companies who claim to be able to bypass the activation lock and if you do a search on ebay you find many phones advertised (and selling) where they are locked.


It's a lot simpler than that.
The phone can be factory reset by anyone with a computer by following Apple's instructions.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204306#recovery

I have done it myself a couple of times in the case when friends have forgotten their code.

In the UK I believe there is a system for reporting stolen phones by IMEI number and for all of the UK carriers to block the phone but I am not sure how well it works. It may not be in the carriers commercial interest to block any potential paying customer.

On many phones (no idea about iphone) it is possible to change the IMEI number but in the UK is is a Criminal Offence to do so. Criminals may not be concerned about this though.

A £10,000 machine can unlock the phone in a short time (by trying all the possible codes?) via the port in the bottom of the phone. Apple are now proposing to fix it to the apparent anguish of the US authorities. Unlock time depends on passcode length and complexity. 3 days for 6 digit passcode.

This Is the Box Used by Law Enforcement Agencies to Unlock iPhones (http://www.iphonehacks.com/2018/03/this-is-the-box-used-by-law-enforcement-agencies-to-unlock-iphones.html)

https://threatpost.com/apple-removes-iphone-usb-access-feature-blocking-out-hackers-law-enforcement/132842/
"One such device, called the GrayKey box"

[jimjim1]

The man at the apple shop assured me these motorbike thieves end up with an unusable iphone if uou use the "find my iphone" facility and then lock or erase.


Your statement seems to be entirely correct.

I just bumped into this.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht201365
"Find My iPhone includes Activation Lock—a feature that's designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch if it's ever lost or stolen. Activation Lock is enabled automatically when you turn on Find My iPhone.

...
From that point on, your Apple ID password or device passcode is required before anyone can turn off Find My iPhone (https://support.apple.com/kb/HT201441), erase your device, or reactivate and use your device."

[GrahamO]

It's a lot simpler than that.
The phone can be factory reset by anyone with a computer by following Apple's instructions.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204306#recovery

I have done it myself a couple of times in the case when friends have forgotten their code.

But if the iCloud account is active on the phone, then when attempting to register the phone you get a message which tells you that there is an active account registered on the phone and you have to enter the iCloud password before it will activate the phone.

There is no commercial bypass for this at all. No password, phone is a brick unless you jailbreak it, which is not something that most would want to do. Why buy an iPhone and basically install Android on it ?

[ChickenHouse]

Stealing an iPhone today makes only sense if you sell the parts. With activation lock and the iPhone locked to the AppleID account there is not even for Apple a way to unlock the phone as is. Even further, if somebody steals the phone with Find my iPhone active, the only thing you need is a second phone from someone to immediately call the police and track the thieves by the function. Pretty darn dumb to steal an iPhone nowadays.

[Espada III]

If you recall there was a terrorist couple in California and after committing a heinous crime (14 dead I think) the US wanted to hack into their iPhone to find details of what contacts they had. It was 'impossible'. Apple refused to write software to enable the secity services from unlocking it; some Israeli company said they could do it, but I'm not sure if they succeeded. Certainly the FBI found a way in, but some common scrote would not be able to do that and when I wanted to unlock and old iPhone previously belonging to my child no-one could help me.

Just a pity Apple remain on the side of the terrorists rather than the law enforcers.