The Process of Resetting my iPhone and Security

This weekend I experienced a complicated situation regarding my iPhone, and I am going to try my best to describe the situation clearly and concisely.

I lost my iPhone last Friday while taking public transportation, and on Sunday (yesterday), one of my roommates received a text from my iPhone stating that it had been found and that the person who found it wanted to return it. We decided to meet this person, and, I now have my iPhone back! What a miracle!

However, after telling my parents this story, they were a bit concerned that this person managed to get into my iPhone and send texts despite my four-digit passcode. Due to this piece of information, my parents and I decided that it would be best to reset my phone, save all of the data currently on my phone through iCloud, and change all of my important passwords (Fortunately, nothing else in my phone has been changed, at least not in an obvious way). However, if I decide to do this, how can I ensure that all of the information that is currently on my phone will be backed up, and where can I access this information while my phone is resetting? Also, will I have to change my phone number?

To conclude, if you have any other advice for me in regard to this extraordinary situation, please feel free to let me know. Your time and help are greatly appreciated.

iPhone 13 mini, iOS 15

Posted on Oct 17, 2022 8:15 AM

Top-ranking reply

Chris0107

Level 9

52,001 points

Posted on Oct 17, 2022 8:56 AM

Just out of curiosity I put my phone into lost mode.. I was wondering if it would allow texts to be sent. It did not give me a way to send a text, so I would be a bit suspicious as well in your position.

Is your 4 digit passcode one of the common easy ones for someone to crack? ie 1111 or something?

If you want to create a backup, follow instructions in the link below

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

You cannot navigate through the contents of your backup, you'll just have to 'trust' that it works.

To restore your iPhone to factory settings..

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

or if you don't have a computer to do it with

How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

To restore from your backup..

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Then you should also probably change your passcode & consider to start using a 6 digit passcode. and/or make sure it's not some super simple one that someone could guess.. do a google search for common/terrible passcodes to use.

Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Maybe check that you recognize your Apple ID's 'trusted devices'

To do that, go to appleid.apple.com, sign in, click on Account Security.. your trusted devices and phone numbers should be listed there. Edit as necessary.

If it were me, I'd probably check to see if there are any unknown devices signed into my Apple ID, remove any you don't recognize.. and then I'd change my Apple ID password just for piece of mind.

Check your Apple ID device list to see where you're signed in - Apple Support

Change your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Then as you commented, yes, any passwords stored in your phone that you are concerned about, change em.

I don't think I'd bother with changing the phone number myself.. if you hear back from the person and it's weird.. just block them. Our phone numbers are likely sold to dozens of entities anyways (which send us spam texts and robo calls)

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The Process of Resetting my iPhone and Security

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