iPad was automatically removed as a trusted device from two-step verification for your Apple ID

Question

Level 1

9 points

iPad was automatically removed as a trusted device from two-step verification for your Apple ID

Last night (31 March 2015 at about 7:30pm) I received three emails from Apple stating that my iPad was automatically removed as a trusted device from two-step verification for your Apple ID (email address). I received this message on three separate emails - one for each of the amiss on file with my Apple ID . At the end of the email message it said "If you did not erase this device or if you believe an unauthorized person has accessed your account, you should reset your account password immediately at My Apple ID."

I was very surprised to see this message implying that somehow my account had been compromised. Regardless of what might have happened, I RESET my password. Incidentally, this PW set also made my App Specific PW for Outlook invalid so I had to request another App Specific PW to male Outlook resume working with 2FA. But I went to the safari My Apple ID page directly, rather than clicking on the web link in the email as a protection against "phishing."

Unless someone had got access to the inner workings of Apple ID and 2FA, I do not see how this could have happened unless there was an error made by the Apple ID system. Any access to my Apple ID account would have required verification using one of my verified devices.

Has anyone got an explanation of what might have happened? Lets' hope this is a very rare occurrence. I see there have been earlier post on a similar subject but none have had a plausible explanation of what might have happened and why.

Charles

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7), null

Posted on Apr 1, 2015 9:42 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 29, 2015 5:25 PM in response to MightyMagpie

Finally, a call to Apple Australia informed me that no such email had been sent by them...it appears to be a phishing exercise!

Reply

Answer 2

jay76bea

Level 1

0 points

Apr 2, 2015 2:22 AM in response to Charles_M

I had this yesterday as well. I discovered that it was because I had changed the app restrictions on my iPad to 12+ from Allow All Apps. I don't know if this helps in your case, but it seems that access to the device app that controls the AppleID is required on verified devices.

The email is unhelpful - it would be better if it said a bit more about why devices may cease to be trusted.

J

Reply

Answer 3

Jun 29, 2015 4:27 PM in response to Charles_M

I received this email this morning

Dear........

Your iPad was automatically removed as a trusted device from two-step verification for your Apple ID.............

Your trusted devices are used to verify your identity when you make changes to your account, sign in to iCloud, or make iTunes or App Store purchases from a new device.

To protect your security, when you erase a device it will be removed from your list of trusted devices. To re-verify your device, sign in to My Apple ID choose Password and Security, and then Add or Remove Trusted Devices.

If you did not erase this device or if you believe an unauthorized person has accessed your account, you should reset your account password immediately at My Apple ID.

If you need additional help, visit Apple Support.

Apple Support

I readded my iPad to trusted device list by re verifying the device which was still present on the list...it simply was showing as not verified.

I did not change password as suggested as this would require changing my other devices and apps associated with them.

My very strong feeling is that it is an Apple issue.

However, I will be closely monitoring my accounts.

Reply

Answer 4

Weez

Level 1

4 points

Jul 24, 2015 9:34 AM in response to MightyMagpie

I received the same email this morning. I have not done anything unusual with my iPad, not been into its settings, nothing. Apple Support just talked me through regaining access to my ipad. They said I do not need a new password and indicated it is an Apple issue.

Reply

Answer 5

Jun 29, 2015 4:34 PM in response to Charles_M

Did you restore your iPad to Factory Settings or erase your iPad?

It is interesting that you got that email because I just reset my iPad 1 to Factory yesterday and restored it and I did not get any email at all. Neither did my iPad disappear from my Trusted devices....

Cheers,

GB

Reply

Answer 6

Jun 29, 2015 4:39 PM in response to gail from maine

Hi,

neither.....I perhaps, foolishly, see this as an Apple error. I will contact Apple to follow up but other posts on this issue indicate Apple not helpful.

I simply reverified my existing visible iPad which hadn't actually been removed from trusted list just not verified. Most strange but how could anyone have hacked my account without my receiving an SMS as part of 2 Factor ID.

Cheers

MM

Reply

Answer 7

Jun 29, 2015 4:42 PM in response to MightyMagpie

Are you certain you verified it initially? It has been awhile since I set mine up, and can't remember if you have to verify it when you add it, or if that is something you can do later? Just trying to figure out what would have prompted the action. I am 99.9999% sure this is not an indication that your account was hacked in any way....

Cheers,

GB

Reply

Answer 8

Jun 29, 2015 4:58 PM in response to gail from maine

I'm as certain as I can be that it was verified. Why would I receive what appears to be a legitimate email to tell me it had been automatically removed?

Alternatively, this is a fake email as appears below:

Dear ......

Your iPad was automatically removed as a trusted device from two-step verification for your Apple ID ...........

Your trusted devices are used to verify your identity when you make changes to your account, sign in to iCloud, or make iTunes or App Store purchases from a new device.

To protect your security, when you erase a device it will be removed from your list of trusted devices. To re-verify your device, sign in to My Apple ID choose Password and Security, and then Add or Remove Trusted Devices.

If you did not erase this device or if you believe an unauthorized person has accessed your account, you should reset your account password immediately at My Apple ID.

If you need additional help, visit Apple Support.

Apple Support

You say you received no email at all...is that correct?

I did receive a follow up email to say my trusted device( iPad) had been added.

Am I correct in thinking you reset because you did receive an initial email? or could you clarify when you say "I did not get any email at all".

I ,too, would like to know what prompted the email I received.

Cheers

MM

Reply

Answer 9

Jun 29, 2015 7:32 PM in response to MightyMagpie

No, I meant I had to reset my iPad to Factory Settings for an unrelated reason, so, essentially, I erased it. Since the email specifically referenced an "erased device", I thought possibly that is what had prompted the email. But, I didn't get any such mail when I did the reset.

So, that is interesting that Apple did not send the email. The links appear to be going to a legitimate URL. On the other hand, if it was legit, then I should have gotten a similar email.

So, glad you dug into this and got the scoop from Apple.

Cheers,

GB

Reply