iPhone Just Stolen - Phone is off

[R13...]

iMcJaz - did you ever find out whether this is the case? If you remotely wipe the phone does it render Find my iPhone useless?

Anyone else have an answer?

Yes if they turn the phone on and it receives the wipe command, you can no longer locate it. It also means they cannot activate it either though via Apple servers.

 

[P1AY3R]

the wife's iPhone 6 was stolen a few months back, phone was off after 5mins... gave up on find my iPhone as one was off
insurance replaced the device

agree there needs to be a way to not power off the device from the lock screen

 

[supersunbird]

the wife's iPhone 6 was stolen a few months back, phone was off after 5mins... gave up on find my iPhone as one was off
insurance replaced the device

agree there needs to be a way to not power off the device from the lock screen

Is there Prey (that's software) for iPhones? That has a feature where one can prevent the device from being shut down when in lock screen (obviously useless if the lock screen is a swipe) and really useful for devices with built in battery.

 

[sand_man]

There's an option for jailbreakers I think. Password protects the option to power down via the power button.

Access to the control centre on the lockscreen, can be deactivated.

http://www.igeeksblog.com/prevent-your-iphone-from-becoming-untraceable-when-stolen/

This is exclusively for users who have jailbroken their devices. You can control the power button only if you have jailbroken and installed some Cydia tweaks. PowerDown Enhancer (free, ModMyi repo) is a Cydia tweak that lets iPhone users set passcode-security for turning off the iPhone. It’s a nifty tweak if you want to prevent others from switching off your iPhone. Now, it’s not often that you would want that function/feature but one particular thing where it’s helpful is this: if someone steals your iPhone and tries to shut it down, he won’t be able to do it without entering the correct security code.

 

[Priapus]

I do and have great trust in it.

Just wanted to make sure that I don't need to wipe it just yet. He's due for an upgrade in 6 weeks and the phone is insured. Did Oscar wipe his phone, or just 'forgot the password'? That whole saga really impressed me with Apple's privacy policy.

He "forgot" the passcode. Without that it's impossible to get into an iPhone. The FBI recently asked Apple to get them into stolen / confiscated iPhones and Apple turned around and said that even if a Judge ordered them to do so, they couldn't. The security measures put in place from iOS7 upwards means not even Apple themselves can get back into your iPhone. So security on the devices is really good.

Without the Apple ID and with Find my iPhone turned on, a stolen iPhone is nothing more than a paper weight.

 

[Priapus]

Is there Prey (that's software) for iPhones? That has a feature where one can prevent the device from being shut down when in lock screen (obviously useless if the lock screen is a swipe) and really useful for devices with built in battery.

If the iDevice has not been Jailbroken, no app will be able to prevent it. 3rd party developers for non-jailbroken device do not have access to any hardware buttons and most of the OS.

 

[P1AY3R]

Without the Apple ID and with Find my iPhone turned on, a stolen iPhone is nothing more than a paper weight.

so if u set the device to remote wipe, can it be reused? in other words is it better to leave the phone in lost mode or just cut your losses and set remote wipe?

 

[Priapus]

so if u set the device to remote wipe, can it be reused? in other words is it better to leave the phone in lost mode or just cut your losses and set remote wipe?

Remote wipe means you'll no longer be able to find it using Find My iPhone. It also means for anyone else to use it they will need to know your Apple ID and the password. Not even loading new firmware to the device using a Mac or PC will help as it will still need the Apple ID and password to activate the device.

 

[sand_man]

so if u set the device to remote wipe, can it be reused? in other words is it better to leave the phone in lost mode or just cut your losses and set remote wipe?

Any device running iOS 8 or later that is associated/linked with a particular iCloud account, cannot be activated without entering that iCloud accounts details.

You can't even do a DFU mode restore and if you do, when the device powers up it's going to prompt for iCloud password. It's a brick in the hands of anyone other than the rightful owner.

If find my iphone is active, an iCloud account is being used and the phone is linked.

Remote wipe is a feature accessible to users using find my iphone and with an iCloud linked device. Remote wipe protects your own data, privacy and information by deleting it off the phone, so do it.

 

[Jay_Bee_Kay]

You can't even do a DFU mode restore and if you do, when the device powers up it's going to prompt for iCloud password. It's a brick in the hands of anyone other than the rightful owner.

How sure are you about this?
If I'm not mistaken, doing a DFU mode followed by restoring a brand new firmware [downloaded separately .ipw and not from iTunes, not sure if there's a differnce] (even if same iOS) will start up the device as new, prompting you to either login with existing iCloud or generate a new one?

Afaik that is the only flaw there is to FindMyiPhone, but if what you're stating is true, then solid on Apple for this?

Adding to this:
There's no reason to wipe the phone if it's locked, as the only way they'll gain access to the phone is by wiping / restoring new firmware to it anyway, which means your data will be gone.

 

[greg0205]

How sure are you about this?
If I'm not mistaken, doing a DFU mode followed by restoring a brand new firmware [downloaded separately .ipw and not from iTunes, not sure if there's a differnce] (even if same iOS) will start up the device as new, prompting you to either login with existing iCloud or generate a new one?

Afaik that is the only flaw there is to FindMyiPhone, but if what you're stating is true, then solid on Apple for this?

Adding to this:
There's no reason to wipe the phone if it's locked, as the only way they'll gain access to the phone is by wiping / restoring new firmware to it anyway, which means your data will be gone.

sand_man is correct. I think it's even more difficult 'tho... Last time I formatted a phone, I was prompted to turn off FindMyPhone in iTunes. You then have to use your iCloud password on your phone to do this.

 

[ahoudet]

Even in DFU mode with the ipsw, you can't bypass it

 

[sand_man]

Even in DFU mode with the ipsw, you can't bypass it

Correct.

If the phone is linked to an iCloud account, it cannot be activated without entering that accounts password.

The phone and that iCloud account are married to another until the owner unlinks the device.

Every restored iDevice must activate via Apple's servers. IN the cloud is where these details reside. Not physically on the device.

 

[*SynergyX*]

spare parts....

 

[sand_man]

There's no reason to wipe the phone if it's locked, as the only way they'll gain access to the phone is by wiping / restoring new firmware to it anyway, which means your data will be gone.

Not entirely true.

A certain number of files can be accessed via iFunbox.

 

[Jay_Bee_Kay]

Some legit feedback. Thanks guys. Makes me feel a lot better knowing these things are in place.

Interesting take on iFunbox - noted.

 

[R13...]

Not entirely true.

A certain number of files can be accessed via iFunbox.

Even when it is locked? I couldn't access anything on my device when it is locked, and it is worse with the sandbox restrictions introduced by iOS 8

 

[sand_man]

Even when it is locked? I couldn't access anything on my device when it is locked, and it is worse with the sandbox restrictions introduced by iOS 8

My 6s on 9.1 jailed....

 

[R13...]

That's interesting. I assume it doesn't allow sandbox access still, only those apps that allow iTunes data share?

 

[sand_man]

That's interesting. I assume it doesn't allow sandbox access still, only those apps that allow iTunes data share?

Didn't really check...