Q: Locked Account
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Feb 9, 2016 8:53 AMby Dah•veed,Apple ID security issues -
Account security issues almost always require you to speak directly to an Apple representative to securely establish your identity as the account holder. You can set it up so that Apple calls you, either immediately or at a time convenient to you.
1. Go to http://www.apple.com/support/appleid/
2. Choose Contact Support and click Contact Support
3. Choose Other Apple ID Topics and choose the appropriate topic for your issue (Security questions or password)
4. Choose, No Thanks, Continue
5. Choose the best method for you for contacting Apple
Late 2012 Mac mini, OS X El Capitan 10.11.2; Apple Watch, 38 mm silver AL, Watch OS 2.1; iPad Air 2 & iPhone 6+, iOS 9.2
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Feb 9, 2016 9:16 AMby Dah•veed,HelpfulIf Apple can't help her recover the account, then she needs to abandon it, it can't be recovered. Erase her phone and start over by creating a new Apple ID and move on. She will need to buy what she lost, but hopefully she can stop stressing about what can't be reclaimed.
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Feb 9, 2016 9:52 AMby Dah•veed,Sadly, the hacker(s) was quite knowledgeable about Apple ID accounts. Activating two-step verification is what locked Apple out of recovering the account for your wife. It is when you initiate 2-step that you identify a trusted device and receive a recovery key. When you get the recovery key, Apple verifies to you that should you loose the key, the account is lost and Apple can't recover it for you.
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Feb 9, 2016 10:59 AMby Christopher Pratt,She has been told that her account is dependent on her email address. I agree that she should move on. This is SOOOO stressful. Can she create a new ID? How? She has been told that IDs are email address dependent. So- if she creates a new address- solely for the Apple ID- is this possible? She was told she couldn't but I can't see a reason why not! She has only pence worth of apps.- BUT- She was told that the Apple ID was linked to the serial number of her computer. The phone is inconsequential but she has a massive data base, representing YEARS of work, on her computer and is extremely unwilling to do anything that might compromise it. More importantly- she can't download and update any OS software. Come on Apple- Help!!!
Suggestions???
Question therefore- is the Apple ID linked to the computer's serial No?
What happens therefore if one gives/sells the computer to a new owner?
Does one have to initialise the machine?
She has all her files backed up on an external hard drive of course.
If we have to reinitialise the Mac we will but the mind boggles at her justified response if she loses her research files. Best not go there.
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE!!!
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by Dah•veed,Feb 9, 2016 11:14 AM
Dah•veed
Feb 9, 2016 11:14 AM
in response to Christopher Pratt
Level 7
(34,847 points)
Mac App StoreAs long as she has cancelled any credit cards that may have been registered in the Apple Store and iTunes & Mac App Store accounts tied to that Apple ID, I don't understand how the account has a lot of value to the hacker at this point beyond being able to update and redownload the "pence worth" of content associated with the account.
You may make as many Apple IDs as you deem necessary. It just takes an email address that isn't associated with a previous Apple ID. It's just that Apple can't transfer content from one Apple ID to another per the licensing agreement with 3rd parties. The license is to the Apple ID, not the person.
When one gives or sells a used Mac there are suggested steps to follow to do it in a kosher manner.
What to do before selling or giving away your Mac - Apple Support
She can't accomplish some of it as she doesn't have access to the Apple ID. I wager that very few folks know about or follow those steps.
What I would do is use Time Machine to back up the Mac to an ext HDD. Then I would erase the Mac and set it up as a new Mac with the new Apple ID, just as I suggested with the iPhone. While setting up the Mac, in the process she should be given the opportunity to migrate the Time Machine backup from the ext HDD.
