Lost my iphone. Will the thief be able to reset without losing data?

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Lost my iphone. Will the thief be able to reset without losing data?

Hello! My iPhone 5 with iOs 7.0 was stolen yesterday. I have enabled Find my iPhone, but it's been offline for 20 hours, so i'm assuming he has reseted it. I am very concerned about all the information i have on the phone, pictures of my wife and kids etc. I remotely created a code on my iphone with Fmi, but the thief still called my friend AFTER i had done this, which gave me an expression that the code was not working. The phone has now been offline as mentiioned, and my question is:

1. Will the perpetrator be able to block find my iphone without factory reseting and losing all data? Can he make the phone stay offline and still get access to all my pictures and information?

2. Will the phone come online if he changes the sim cards to one of his own?

3. Will the phone come online if he connects it to itunes to factory reset it?

And most of all: I'm very concerned that the code did not work, why didn't it even though i made a code? How was he able to call my friend? I'm not so worried about finding the phone, i'm just worried that my personal life is open for everybody else.

Thanks!

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.1

Posted on Oct 27, 2013 5:58 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 27, 2013 6:00 AM in response to DennisMax

No he can't use it. Since on IOS 7, it will disable data and usage of the iphone since you enabled find my IPhone. A activation screen will pop up on the IPhone so he won't be able to use the phone without you!!

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Answer 2

Oct 27, 2013 6:03 AM in response to DennisMax

Fmi ?

What to do if your iOS device is lost or stolen

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Answer 3

FelipeV

Level 6

10,636 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:02 AM in response to DennisMax

If you had Find my iPhone under iOS 7 activated BEFORE the phone was stolen, there is no way the thief can activate it without your AppleID and password. The phone is a useless brick.

If not, then the thief can do whatever he wants with the phone.

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Answer 4

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:02 AM in response to DennisMax

Change your Apple ID password. Now that you've locked the phone with a passcode, & the fact that you're running iOS 7.0. your phone is useless to whoever stole it. It can't be reactivated without knowing your Apple ID/Password.

It's nothing but a paperweight to the thief.

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Answer 5

DennisMax Author

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Oct 27, 2013 6:08 AM in response to wjosten

so if i am understanding all you gentlemen correctly:

I HAD activated Find my Iphone before the thief stole it, but i did not use it from another phone untill after the phone was stolen. You mean activated it in icloud right?

What worries me is that he was able to call my friend after i used his iPhone to create a passcode, and to start tracking it.. so we tracked it to central station, but wasn't exactly easy to find anyone there. Does this mean that he can do whatever he wants with the phone, since he was able to call after i activated a passcode?

But you can guarantee me with 100% security that he will never be able to get my photos from the phone? What if he connects it to a computer and moves the pictures out of the DCIM-folder?

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Answer 6

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:11 AM in response to DennisMax

Once you put a passcode on the phone, the thief will no longer have access to any data on the phone. The thief had access before you put the passcode on, that's why you need to change all of your passwords...Apple ID...email...change them all.

The phone is now useless to the thief.

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Answer 7

DennisMax Author

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Oct 27, 2013 6:15 AM in response to wjosten

Okay, Wjosten. So the info is secure no matter what happens?

That's a great relief if it is the case 🙂

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Answer 8

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:19 AM in response to DennisMax

After you put the passcode on, yes. The thief would have to get lucky & guess it, but you don't get unlimited attempts. The lock out gets longer & longer every time you enter a wrong passcode until the phone is disabled.

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Answer 9

DennisMax Author

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Oct 27, 2013 6:21 AM in response to wjosten

But how was he able to call my friend after we enabled a passcode then?

And can he connect the phone to the computer and use the DCIM-folder to remove pictures?

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Answer 10

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:24 AM in response to DennisMax

Because you didn't have a passcode on the phone to begin with. Putting a passcode on AFTER your phone was stolen is akin to locking your front door AFTER a thief is in your house.

I can't say what the thief did or didn't do before you put the passcode on your phone.

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Answer 11

DennisMax Author

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Oct 27, 2013 6:29 AM in response to wjosten

But then the next time he locked the phone with the lock button, he would not be able to get into the phone because the code became active. Am i right?

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Answer 12

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

Oct 27, 2013 6:32 AM in response to DennisMax

Correct.

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Answer 13

DennisMax Author

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Oct 27, 2013 6:35 AM in response to wjosten

Alright. Thanks for the help, I'm hoping you're right. I am very worried about the information i have there.

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Answer 14

Dec 28, 2013 1:56 AM in response to mowenhockey

plz can any body can help me in this i make an account on my brother iphone 1s i have gien him the id and the password of it now i dont know the apple id and the phone is asking activate account info user name n password which he aslo forgotten can any body help

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