Latest news with #StolenDeviceProtection
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Apple and Google clash with police and MPs over phone thefts
Senior figures at Apple and Google have clashed with the police over its recommendations for how best to deal with phone theft in the UK. The Met's James Conway told the Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - which is considering the question - that two-thirds of thefts in London now relate to mobile phones. With up to 70% of knife crime linked to robbery, he told MPs that meant phone theft was "significantly driving parts of our violence problem". The Met wants phone companies to use the unique identifying number - known as an IMEI - that each device has to block any that are reported as stolen. But Apple and Google - who dominate the market - raised concerns about the idea. "Focusing on IMEI blocking might miss some of the problems," Apple's head of law enforcement requests, Gary Davis, told the committee. "We worry that there is a vector for fraud... we are concerned about a world where it would be a person who claims to be the owner who's asking." Stolen devices are blocked from being used in the UK by phone networks by using its IMEI, but this is not the case globally. This means a stolen phone can still be used in some other countries if a criminal is able to bypass the device's security. Thieves snatched his phone in London - it was in China a month later Met Police blitz to fight phone-snatching 'scourge' But Mr Davis said he was concerned that phone owners already face "extensive fraud attempts", which he estimated at more than a thousand people trying to access devices each month. "They do it for malicious purposes, they do it to maybe blackmail you," he said. "I would like to think in an area such as this our expertise built up over time in relation to attack vectors would mean something." The firms pointed out they have implemented several new safety features in the past 12 months to help combat phone theft. Apple has introduced Stolen Device Protection while Android - which is owned by Google - has brought in Theft Detection Lock. Police officers said they were looking for action from phone providers to help prevent further thefts. The Met's chief technology officer Darren Scates said 75% of phones which were stolen are moved abroad, with 28% ending up in either China or Hong Kong. "We're asking the cloud providers specifically to prevent a lost or stolen device from connecting to their cloud services," he said. "This doesn't even need to involve the police." He said they had been asking for this since October 2023, but had not yet been able to convince the firms to take action. Some MPs accused the two tech firms of lacking the will to take action. "You could tomorrow stop phones that are on the IMEI blacklist connecting back to your services if you so wished, both of you, and you won't do it," Lib Dem MP Martin Wrigley said. "I'm not saying that we won't do it," Google software engineering manager Simon Wingrove replied, adding the issue needed an industry-wide approach. He said the global database of IMEI numbers is built, maintained, populated, read and used by network carriers. "If we want to change that so that it becomes a database that is used by other actors to do other things to devices to block them in other ways, that is an industry-wide discussion that is not in my power as an engineer at Google," he said. "I think we need to decide as industry that is a safe and sensible thing to do." He pointed to Android's factory reset protection as an area it was continuing to work on to improve security and make it harder for thieves to reset stolen devices. "The most recent changes that we've announced we made in the most recent version of Android," he said. "We're really hopeful that we will see a significant impact - we haven't stopped investing in that." But one of the main threads of the day was a clash between MPs and Mr Davis over the market for second-hand parts. "I worry if we focus on IMEI blocking only you are going to miss the market for parts," he told the committee, to frustrations from those in attendance. "It's clear from the mood of the committee that we don't feel that either Google or Apple have a road plan to effective phone protection which does not involve IMEIs," Labour MP Chi Onwurah said. Apple is concerned that when devices are stolen, rather than being reused elsewhere they are instead being chopped up into component parts - like screens, processors and batteries - which can then be sold on for repairs. "Our best protection is Activation Lock," he said. "I understand you will take the view that it obviously mustn't be working because there are still devices being stolen. But that is the best protection." Activation Lock is a feature which links certain iPhone or iPad components to a person's Apple ID - meaning a person must use their password to allow these parts of their device to be used in repairs. The feature was well-received when it was announced in September as a way to deal with thieves. But the committee wanted to focus on blocking the IMEI of a stolen phone being used elsewhere. "It feels to a lot of people that you're dragging your feet," Conservative MP Kit Malthouse said. But Mr Davis said he felt Activation Lock was "a major step" in disrupting the second-hand market. "It could well be that IMEI blocking is a natural next step," he said. "However I would want to make sure that as part of all of that the Met police continues to do traditional policing, which means sending requests to us for stolen devices, and Apple responding to those requests. "We're not seeing that, and I think it's very important." Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here.
CNET
31-05-2025
- General
- CNET
How to Enable Stolen Device Protection on Your iPhone in a Few Easy Steps
If someone takes your iPhone, you might panic. Replacing an iPhone could cost over a thousand dollars, which is not fun, but if the culprit knows your passcode, they could access your messages, photos and other sensitive information. Enabling a feature called Stolen Device Protection can help alleviate some of the stress you might feel if this ever happens to you. Apple introduced Stolen Device Protection when the company released iOS 17.3 in January 2024. The feature aims to protect your data if your phone is stolen or falls into nefarious hands. "Stolen Device Protection adds a layer of security when your iPhone is away from familiar locations, such as home or work, and helps protect your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone is ever stolen," Apple wrote online. Here's how to enable Stolen Device Protection and what to know about the new security feature. Read more: How to Make Your iPhone's Stolen Device Protection More Effective How to turn Stolen Device Protection on Here's how to enable this security feature: 1. Open Settings. 2. Tap Face ID & Passcode -- you might have to enter your passcode. 3. Tap Stolen Device Protection. 4. Tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection to enable the feature. Read more: How to Give Stolen Device Protection a Boost What to know about Stolen Device Protection Stolen Device Protection adds a layer of security to your iPhone. Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images As CNET's David Lumb reports, Stolen Device Protection requires you to enter your biometric information at least once to access some of your sensitive settings and information when you're not in a familiar location, like your home. Here are some of the things Apple said you'll need to enter your biometric information for in order to change or access when you're in an unfamiliar location: Using passwords or passkeys saved in your Keychain. Using payment methods saved in Safari that autofill. Turning off Lost Mode Erasing all content and settings on your iPhone. Applying for a new Apple Card. Viewing your Apple Card's virtual number. Taking certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in your Wallet, like initiating a transfer. Using your iPhone to set up a new device. The feature also uses a new mechanism called Security Delay when changing some settings. If you try to change these settings when away from a familiar location, Stolen Device Protection will require you to enter your biometric info twice: once initially and then again after an hour. According to Apple, if you arrive at a familiar location while waiting for the Security Delay to end, your device could prematurely end the delay. Here are some of the things Apple said are protected by Security Delay: Turning Stolen Device Protection off. Changing your Apple ID password. Signing out of your Apple ID. Updating your Apple ID account security settings, like adding or removing trusted devices. Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID information. Changing your iPhone passcode. Resetting all your iPhone's settings. Turning Find My off. You can also choose to always require Security Delay, even when you're in a familiar location. That way if your iPhone goes missing in the building you live in or another location your iPhone recognizes as a familiar, you'll still have this layer of protection. Here's how to always enable Security Delay. 1. Open Settings. 2. Tap Face ID & Passcode -- you might have to enter your passcode. 3. Tap Stolen Device Protection. 4. Tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection to enable the feature if you haven't. 5. Tap Always under Require Security Delay. You can still make purchases with Apple Pay if Stolen Device Protection is turned on. Budrul Chukrut/SOPA/LightRocket/Getty Images Because Stolen Device Protection only protects a handful of settings, you still have to take steps to protect your other information. For example, Apple notes that you can still use your iPhone passcode to make purchases with Apple Pay, so Stolen Device Protection won't totally protect your finances. While Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature and doesn't protect everything on your phone, Apple still recommends everyone turn it on. For more iOS news, here's all the features included in iOS 18.5 and iOS 18.4. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet and what we hope to see in iOS 19.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Forbes
Stolen iPhone—Here's What To Do Now To Protect Your Data
Here's what to do if your iPhone is stolen, including how to activate Apple's Stolen Device ... More Protection features now. Stolen iPhones are not a new concept, thieves have been grabbing smartphones for years. But the amount that's lost when your iPhone is stolen is growing, as people spend more on devices and keep all their data and banking information inside. The risk of a stolen iPhone is so big that Apple has introduced a range of features under its Stolen Device Protection update. These allow you to lock your iPhone if it is taken and wipe it so thieves can't access your data. The feature was added after pressure from the press following a number of cases where criminals had stolen iPhones and accessed accounts, causing lasting damage. But some iPhone users don't think Apple is doing enough to stop this epidemic as a theft victim has filed a case against it in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiff is seeking access to data worth two terabytes encompassing their 'entire digital life, including that of his family,' alongside $5 million in damages, according to The Washington Post. The victim, who had his iPhone stolen in Arizona, said the device held crucial information related to his tax filings and research and therefore claimed the theft led to shutdown of his tech consulting firm. Here's what to do if you iPhone is stolen — and how to reduce the impact now in case criminals do get hold of your device. If your iPhone has been stolen, hopefully you have enabled Stolen Device Protection already. Either way, there are some steps you can take immediately to try and reduce the impact from thieves. Even if you use Stolen Device Protection for iPhone, the additional protections for your iPhone will only last for a certain period of time, Apple says on its support page. The best way to protect your iPhone and Apple Account is to quickly mark the stolen device as lost. First log onto iCloud/find and sign in using your Apple ID. Then select your missing iPhone from the list, select Lost Mode and enable this. You can also use iCloud/find to see your iPhone's current location. The next thing to do is notify law enforcement and your mobile provider, so the latter can help prevent any further data loss by suspending your account. You may also be able to file an insurance claim for your device. Sadly, yes, a thief can unlock your iPhone if it is in Lost Mode, if they have access to your passcode or Apple ID. The attacker can then log into your iPhone and disable Lost Mode giving them access to your device and its data. This is why it's integral these are secure and you use a lengthy PIN to protect your device, as well as Face ID. Shield your iPhone when entering these credentials so attackers can't shoulder surf and view your details. Consider changing your Apple ID, especially if the password is not very secure and easy to guess. Attackers will often brute force passwords, allowing them to guess the more easy ones. You might also want to change other important credentials such as your email and banking app to prevent attackers accessing this valuable data. If there is no way you will recover your iPhone, Apple outlines steps you can take to wipe it on its support page linked above. If you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, don't remove the device from your Apple Account (or from Find My) until your claim has been fully approved, Apple advises. Look at for scams. Apple will never contact you to say that your iPhone or iPad has been found, the iPhone maker warns on its website. 'Never share your device passcode or other account information (such as passwords or verification codes) with anyone else. Stay vigilant to avoid social engineering schemes, including phishing messages, fake support calls and other scams.' Stolen Device Protection will help protect your iPhone in the event that it is stolen. Go To Settings > Privacy and Security > Stolen Device Protection and toggle the switch to on. You can also require a security delay Always, or Away From Familiar Locations such as your home to prevent crucial settings such as your Apple ID being changed by someone else. Stolen Device Protection will help protect your iPhone in the event that it is stolen. Go To ... More Settings, Privacy And Security, Stolen Device Protection and toggle the switch to on. The security of your iPhone starts at home. Ensure that your PIN is difficult to crack, using the longest combination of numbers possible. Where possible in your apps and for passwords, ensure you are enabling two-factor authentication and regularly updating software. Disabling Control Center prevents thieves from turning on Aeroplane Mode or altering other settings without unlocking the phone, says Santo Ludy, managing director at tech outfit BecexTech. 'Keeping Aeroplane Mode off means your device stays connected, which is crucial for tracking it via Find My iPhone,' he says. In Settings > Face ID & Passcode, scroll to Allow Access When Locked and disable Control Center. It might be more convenient but Lundy advises you to avoid saving passwords in browsers or apps without encryption. Instead, use a secure password manager that requires authentication. 'This prevents thieves from accessing your accounts with saved login details, and turning off auto-login/autofill adds another barrier to unauthorised access.' In Settings > Passwords > Autofill Passwords, toggle off the autofill option. You can use Apple's Passwords App for this, which has many of the features of traditional password managers such as 1Password and LastPass. Another useful iPhone setting is the ability to wipe all your data so thieves can't get hold of it. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and enable Erase Data. This feature automatically wipes your iPhone's data after 10 failed passcode attempts, Lundy says. To make it more effective, upgrade from a simple 4-digit code to a strong alphanumeric passcode, which is much harder to crack. People keep quite literally a wealth of data in their Apple Wallets, so ensure this isn't available on the Lock Screen where someone else might get at it. In Settings > Face ID & Passcode, toggle off Wallet under Allow Access When Locked. This blocks access to payment cards, transit passes or event tickets stored in Apple Wallet when your phone is locked, preventing unauthorised purchases or use, Lundy says. Some hacking tools can use USB connections to brute-force a passcode, so disabling this feature can help protect your data if your iPhone is stolen, says Lundy. In Settings > Face ID & Passcode, ensure USB Accessories is turned off. A SIM PIN ensures that if your SIM is removed and inserted into another device, it cannot be used without a code, Lundy says. This stops thieves from receiving two-factor authentication codes or impersonating you. Navigate to Settings > Mobile > SIM PIN to set a passcode for your SIM card. Apple iPhone snatching often occurs while the device is in active use and unlocked. 'Reducing your auto-lock time limits the window of opportunity for a thief to access your personal data,' Lundy says. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to 30 seconds. If you are lucky enough not to have had your iPhone stolen, taking some small steps to protect it will help protect your data. If your iPhone has been taken, commiserations — ensure you take the steps outlined above to prevent thieves from accessing it and then take action to prevent it from happening again.
Washington Post
20-04-2025
- Washington Post
Your iPhone is a target for thieves. Do this to help protect your data.
If you're lucky, getting your iPhone stolen results only in a temporary headache. But that's not the case for everyone. Some people have had to deal with serious financial fallout, identity theft and the loss of years' worth of personal data. Michael Mathews, who's suing Apple over access to his data, alleges that the theft of his iPhone and Apple's withholding of the files stored in his iCloud account meant the end of his consulting business. That doesn't have to be you. By taking a few precautions, you can dramatically reduce the fallout that comes with a lost or stolen iPhone. And most of these tips won't take more than a few moments to act on. Here's what you should make sure to do while you still have your iPhone, and what you should keep in mind if it ever gets stolen. Turn on Stolen Device Protection. Apple knows that iPhones are major targets for thieves, and built software tools — like Stolen Device Protection — to make it harder for thieves to wreak havoc on your data and accounts. When your iPhone isn't somewhere it recognizes, like home or work, Stolen Device Protection locks passwords and credit cards behind a Face ID scan, and force you to wait an hour to do things like changing your Apple account password. By Apple's own admission, Stolen Device Protection won't keep thieves at bay forever — but this feature can buy you at least a few more moments to lock down your iPhone if someone runs off with it. To turn it on, make sure your iPhone is up-to-date and open the Settings app. Then tap the 'Face ID and passcode' option, find the Stolen Device Protection option and start setting it up. Rethink your security. Turning on Stolen Device Protection requires you to enable Face ID, which is generally a good idea anyway — more authentication methods mean more hurdles for thieves to clear. (In case you were worried, your biometric data is encrypted and never leaves your phone.) But you may also want to rethink how else you unlock your phone — especially if you're still using a passcode that is just four digits long. By default, Apple recommends setting a passcode that's at least six digits long. For added protection, though, you can create a custom numeric code that includes any number of digits you like, or a full-blown, alphanumeric password. Lock down your key apps. In some cases, victims reported that thieves gained access to banking and other accounts because they were still logged in to specific apps and websites. To make it harder for criminals to access that information, you can force apps that contain your sensitive data to require a Face ID check before they open. To do this, long-press an app icon on your home screen or in your App Library, then tap 'Require Face ID.' Don't just use iCloud backups. If a thief is especially motivated — or especially cruel — they can use built-in iPhone features like recovery keys to lock you out of your Apple account entirely. But there's one easy way to keep this from happening: Back up your data locally, not just in the cloud. Connect your iPhone to your computer, and use either iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to view your iPhone's settings. Then, tick the option for backing up your iPhone's data to your computer. Once that's done, it'll store a copy of its data onto your computer whenever it's plugged in. If you want, you can switch back to iCloud backups after you have saved one locally. Normally, you can't open these iPhone backup files to see what's inside, so this process is mostly helpful if your iPhone gets stolen and you need to set up a replacement. If you want to save a copy of all of the data associated with your Apple account so you can poke through it all, visit log in and choose which of your data you would like to download. (We recommend all of it, if your computer has enough storage.) Turn on Stolen Device Protection. Apple knows that iPhones are major targets for thieves, and built software tools — like Stolen Device Protection — to make it harder for thieves to wreak havoc on your data and accounts. When your iPhone isn't somewhere it recognizes, like home or work, Stolen Device Protection locks passwords and credit cards behind a Face ID scan, and force you to wait an hour to do things like changing your Apple account password. By Apple's own admission, Stolen Device Protection won't keep thieves at bay forever — but this feature can buy you at least a few more moments to lock down your iPhone if someone runs off with it. To turn it on, make sure your iPhone is up-to-date and open the Settings app. Then tap the 'Face ID and passcode' option, find the Stolen Device Protection option and start setting it up. Rethink your security. Turning on Stolen Device Protection requires you to enable Face ID, which is generally a good idea anyway — more authentication methods mean more hurdles for thieves to clear. (In case you were worried, your biometric data is encrypted and never leaves your phone.) But you may also want to rethink how else you unlock your phone — especially if you're still using a passcode that is just four digits long. By default, Apple recommends setting a passcode that's at least six digits long. For added protection, though, you can create a custom numeric code that includes any number of digits you like, or a full-blown, alphanumeric password. Lock down your key apps. In some cases, victims reported that thieves gained access to banking and other accounts because they were still logged in to specific apps and websites. To make it harder for criminals to access that information, you can force apps that contain your sensitive data to require a Face ID check before they open. To do this, long-press an app icon on your home screen or in your App Library, then tap 'Require Face ID.' Don't just use iCloud backups. If a thief is especially motivated — or especially cruel — they can use built-in iPhone features like recovery keys to lock you out of your Apple account entirely. But there's one easy way to keep this from happening: Back up your data locally, not just in the cloud. Connect your iPhone to your computer, and use either iTunes (Windows) or Finder (Mac) to view your iPhone's settings. Then, tick the option for backing up your iPhone's data to your computer. Once that's done, it'll store a copy of its data onto your computer whenever it's plugged in. If you want, you can switch back to iCloud backups after you have saved one locally. Normally, you can't open these iPhone backup files to see what's inside, so this process is mostly helpful if your iPhone gets stolen and you need to set up a replacement. If you want to save a copy of all of the data associated with your Apple account so you can poke through it all, visit log in and choose which of your data you would like to download. (We recommend all of it, if your computer has enough storage.) Activate Lost Mode as fast as you can. Your first instinct might be to file a police report, and you should — but not until you have locked down your iPhone. If possible, borrow a friend's phone or find a trustworthy computer, fire up the web browser and visit Once you log in, you'll be able to see where all of your Apple devices are. Find the one that got stolen and mark it as 'Lost.' If you followed our advice and turned on Stolen Device Protection, turning on Lost Mode will prevent anyone from getting into your phone without passing a Face ID scan — even thieves who figured out your passcode. Consider erasing it. If you've been diligent about making backups, you may want to consider remotely erasing your phone once you feel you won't get it back anytime soon. You can do this by visiting as you would to turn on Lost Mode, and clicking the Erase button. You will feel adrift without a working phone — but making this decision fast enough can help revoke a thief's access to your data and keep them from getting into your other accounts. You'll still be able to see the phone's location once you've erased it, as long as you don't remove the device from your Apple account. Be on high alert for fraudulent texts. It's not uncommon for victims of an iPhone theft to get subsequent text messages imploring them to click links or turn off features like Find My. If you ever get one, ignore it: It's very likely an attempt to get more of your data or to put your old iPhone in a state that makes it easier to sell. In the case of a message that feels like it really could be legitimate, contact Apple Support for a sanity check. Activate Lost Mode as fast as you can. Your first instinct might be to file a police report, and you should — but not until you have locked down your iPhone. If possible, borrow a friend's phone or find a trustworthy computer, fire up the web browser and visit Once you log in, you'll be able to see where all of your Apple devices are. Find the one that got stolen and mark it as 'Lost.' If you followed our advice and turned on Stolen Device Protection, turning on Lost Mode will prevent anyone from getting into your phone without passing a Face ID scan — even thieves who figured out your passcode. Consider erasing it. If you've been diligent about making backups, you may want to consider remotely erasing your phone once you feel you won't get it back anytime soon. You can do this by visiting as you would to turn on Lost Mode, and clicking the Erase button. You will feel adrift without a working phone — but making this decision fast enough can help revoke a thief's access to your data and keep them from getting into your other accounts. You'll still be able to see the phone's location once you've erased it, as long as you don't remove the device from your Apple account. Be on high alert for fraudulent texts. It's not uncommon for victims of an iPhone theft to get subsequent text messages imploring them to click links or turn off features like Find My. If you ever get one, ignore it: It's very likely an attempt to get more of your data or to put your old iPhone in a state that makes it easier to sell. In the case of a message that feels like it really could be legitimate, contact Apple Support for a sanity check.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
This iPhone Feature Can Give Your Data an Extra Layer of Security
Apple released iOS 18.3 in January, and that update brought some bug fixes to your iPhone. But when Apple introduced iOS 17.3 in January 2024, that update introduced a feature called Stolen Device Protection, and it aims to protect your data if your phone is stolen or falls into nefarious hands. According to Apple, Stolen Device Protection can help protect your accounts and personal information in case your iPhone is pilfered. This is an optional feature, but Apple recommends everyone turn it on. Here's how to enable Stolen Device Protection and what to know about the new security feature. Read more: How to Make Your iPhone's Stolen Device Protection More Effective After you update your iPhone, your phone should ask you whether or not you want to turn Stolen Device Protection on. If you didn't see this screen, or meant to do it later, here's how to enable the security feature. 1. Open Settings. 2. Tap Face ID & Passcode. 3. Tap Stolen Device Protection. 4. Tap the toggle next to Stolen Device Protection to enable the feature. Read more: How to Give Stolen Device Protection a Boost As CNET's David Lumb reports, Stolen Device Protection requires you to enter your biometric information at least once to access some of your sensitive settings and information when you're not in a familiar location, like your home. Here are some of the things Apple said you'll need to enter your biometric information for in order to change or access when you're in an unfamiliar location: Using passwords or passkeys saved in your Keychain. Using payment methods saved in Safari that autofill. Turning off Lost Mode. Erasing all content and settings on your iPhone. Applying for a new Apple Card. Viewing your Apple Card's virtual number. Taking certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in your Wallet, like initiating a transfer. Using your iPhone to set up a new device. The feature also uses a new mechanism called Security Delay, when changing some settings. If you try to change these settings when you're in an unfamiliar location, Stolen Device Protection will require you to enter your biometric info twice; once initially and then again after an hour. According to Apple, if you arrive at a familiar location while waiting for the Security Delay to end, your device could prematurely end the delay. Here are some of the things Apple said are protected by Security Delay: Turning Stolen Device Protection off. Changing your Apple ID password. Signing out of your Apple ID. Updating your Apple ID account security settings, like adding or removing trusted devices. Adding or removing Face ID or Touch ID information. Changing your iPhone passcode. Resetting all your iPhone's settings. Turning Find My off. Because Stolen Device Protection only protects a handful of settings, you still have to take steps to protect your other information. For example, Apple notes that you can still use your iPhone passcode to make purchases with Apple Pay, so Stolen Device Protection won't totally protect your finances. While Stolen Device Protection is an optional feature and doesn't protect everything on your phone, Apple still recommends everyone turn it on. For more on iOS 18, here's what you need to know about iOS 18.3.1 and iOS 18.3. You can also check out our iOS 18 cheat sheet.
