Apple makes it harder to hack into a stolen iPhone with the new security feature.
There is nothing more dangerous than a lost iPhone with a compromised password, and Apple is smartly addressing this issue. Currently, Apple is developing a new “Stolen Device Protection” mode, requiring users to input both the passcode and complete Face ID biometric authentication to access sensitive information on iPhones.
“As threats to user devices continue to evolve, we work tirelessly to develop powerful new protections for our users and their data. iPhone data encryption has long led the industry, and a thief can’t access data on a stolen iPhone without knowing the user’s passcode. In the rare cases where a thief can observe the user entering the passcode and then steal the device, Stolen Device Protection adds a sophisticated new layer of protection,” said an Apple spokesperson.
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The new feature will be rolled out to all eligible iPhones via the iOS 17.3 update, adding an extra layer of security. When the iPhone is at a location unrelated to the user, one must authenticate using both passcode and Face ID to use the device, change the associated Apple ID, or factory reset it, else, the phone goes into stolen device protection mode. Additionally, there will be a one-hour delay if someone attempts to remove the existing Face ID and reprogram it.
The Wall Street Journal reported a new scam in which attackers would spy on or befriend victims to obtain their iPhone passwords. With this new feature, miscreants won’t be able to do much with a stolen iPhone, aside from selling it for parts.
iPhones also include a similar feature called “Lost Mode,” allowing users to mark an iPhone as lost from their iCloud. This action disables the device, shares its current location with the owner, and allows the configuration of displaying contact details for the owner if found.
Users can enable the new Stolen Device Mode on iPhones running the beta version of iOS 17.3 or newer models by navigating to Settings > Passcode and enabling the Stolen Device Mode. The same option will be made available for all eligible iPhones in the coming days. This will be an opt-in feature and users have to manually enable it to secure their iPhones.
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First published on: 13-12-2023 at 09:52 IST
