Switching off the phone AFTER unlocking it (security)

Question

Switching off the phone AFTER unlocking it (security)

Hello,

Sorry if this has been asked before.

Is there a way, or future plan to implement an option in the phone settings to only allow the phone to be switched off/hard rebooted AFTER it has been unlocked.

I see this as a great extra security feature incase the phone has been lost as it will disable the ability to switch the phone off unless the user knows the passcode. Of course as mentioned before it would be an option and not compulsary.

Thank you,

RR

HP dv7, iOS 4

Posted on Dec 1, 2010 2:17 AM

Reply

Answer 1

DaVBMan

Level 6

9,292 points

Dec 1, 2010 5:06 AM in response to roadrunner2011

While I can see where your logic comes from I just have to disagree that it is of concern.

1: I would hazard a good guess that anybody that steals somebody's phone main goal will be just to put the phone in DFU mode, wipe it, and have a nice new phone for themselves or to sell. They are not going to waste time to try to "find" your passcode (which really, how are they unless they ask you).

2: Restricting turning off means all the users that have posted here that didn't have a passcode and let their kids use the phone and the kid went and set one and forgot (there are many posts like this through the years), or company phones that take back a phone from a employee that is leaving, etc, will not be able to once again put the phone in DFU mode to restore it and wipe it back to original settings.

Unless you are some high profile person that another company is after getting some secret business info on your phone then them hiring a thief to target you because they want your data, I don't see any real fear of a everyday common thief taking the time to even try to get past a passcode. Far easier for them to wipe it and resell it as they are just after getting a quick buck.

The biggest fear of somebody stealing any phone is when it is not passcode locked which I am amazed at the number of posts of lost/stolen phones here and the poster saying they didn't have it locked. Those cases yes a thief will have a field day accessing your data and accounts doing what ever they can to get more stuff before they finally ditch the phone or wipe it.

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 1, 2010 5:51 AM in response to DaVBMan

I agree with the OP, who isn't suggesting it should be compulsory to unlock before switching off, but that we should have the option. At the moment, for instance, Find my iPhone can be disabled by just switching the phone off. It would still suck that it can be disabled by taking the SIM out, but I'd still prefer to have the option to prevent thieves just turning it off as soon as they get their hands on it.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 2, 2010 4:00 AM in response to roadrunner2011

As I mentioned in the original post, the feature would be optional, so the second poster I understand why you disagree, but not when you can choose between them.

Let's be honest, if you lose your phone or have it stolen, most of the time you find out straight away and not a day after (my phone is always on me and I would notice straight away if it's gone)

What would someone do as soon as he sees a phone, let's say on the seat of a train (considering it's someone who would not attempt to return it, especially if it's an iPhone), the first thing that the person would do is check if it's password protected, if it is, the next thing is to switch it off. The least likely thing he would do is take the sim card out (I don't know many people who carry small sharp objects to pop the sim card slot open).

So the phone is now switched off, bye bye iPhone. Unless you want to sit on the MobileMe website refreshing the page 24/7 until the person turns it on to wipe it clean.

However, let's say the phone cannot be switched off unless it's unlocked (option in settings), this gives the owner valuable time to check the location of the phone.

This idea came to me after hearing of my friend having her iPhone 4 stolen at work. She had in at 11am when she came into work and left it in the pocket, at 1pm she went on her lunch and the phone was gone (staff room theif). When she tried to ring it it was... well well well, switched off!

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 2, 2010 10:09 PM in response to roadrunner2011

Good point and i gree with you here, there really should be an "option"

but one thing tho, ppl can always hard reboot the iphone by holding the Home and Sleep button for 15 seconds....

Reply