Passcode Requirement: You must change your iPhone unlock passcode within 60 minutes.

Well, Ratter - so sorry you were offended, but I think it was necessary. The fact is, when someone comes here for help, quite often it is for two very relevant reasons: a) they are new to the forums and may not know the rules (thank you for pointing them out), and b) they don't know the answer (which you did not point us to). The lack of providing an answer, combined with a snarky tone only reminds newcomers that they don't know what they are doing. That is unhelpful, and actually encourages us NOT to come back to the forum for help (or to offer our help).

Now, to make this a constructive criticism, I would point to iziah's followup, where he kindly recognizes that not everyone knows the answer and may still be having the problem. That tone is appreciated. Even better would be to point to one of the myriad answers to this problem (that I still can't find). I congratulate you on your Level 4 status, as you must have LOTS of knowledge and experience - but wish you maintained some compassion and helpful spirit, instead of what you offered instead.

I agree - while reposting issues already handled might not be great, condescending and rude posts from know-it-all's (who then don't point people to the answer to the problem) is infuriating.

The truth is, I have, myself, been hunting for an answer to this scary message (which I am getting right now) and while I find plenty of people ASKING about it, I find no answers. Thanks for the help.

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I apologize for the repeat post, it was oversight. Moving on to your statement of "nonsense." Is it "nonsense" when there is no profiles, no updates, no syncing, and no web surfing recently. Randomly occurs and the solution is to remove the SIM card and clear browsing history. Logic states applications do not need the owner to change the passcode when the phone is not used for anything other than texting and calling. All explanations of this anomaly are erroneous. The passcode is to unlock the phone, access its content, and modify configurations. If the iOS detected a weak passcode then it would have prompted long ago when it was last updated. Claims do not support evidence and passcode is required to manage device ("Update your software" and "Install iOS Configuration profiles"): Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support.

It is emanating from cell tower. It is likely a MDM trying to manage phones from cell towers. The first type of prompt is <Later> or <Continue>. After powering off (without clicking first prompt) and powering on phone a new prompt with only one option appears <Continue>. Either message does not allow navigating away from the prompt without clicking an option. When this happens power off phone, remove SIM card, power on phone, clear browsing history (may not be required), power off phone, reinsert SIM card, and then power on phone. This is required when it prevents navigating away from the prompt message. All the aforementioned explanations on this site and other support forums did not hold true because after removing SIM card and still having WiFi connection this activity would have persisted. Remember surveillance programs wanting backdoors to bypass passcodes? What better way then to ask the owner to give the passcode up since most people do not change these often or at all. Now the cell towers can support remote MDM of phone with ubiquity. Note: Verizon assumes Apple servers are pushing it and Apple has no idea about this, one plus one equals two.

Nonsense. MDM requires a security profile to be installed on your phone. Go to Settings/General and look for either Device Management or Profiles. If you don't have a security profile the carrier has no control over your phone. If you do have a security profile (and do not have an MS Exchange email account) just delete it. If you DO have an MS Exchange account the owner of that account has wide latitude as to how your phone is managed.

It is emanating from cell tower. It is likely a MDM (Mobile Device Management - an enterprise solution) trying to manage phones from cell towers. The first type of prompt is <Later> or <Continue>. After powering off (without clicking first prompt) and powering on phone a new prompt with only one option appears <Continue>. Neither message allows navigating away from the prompt without clicking an option. When this happens power off phone, remove SIM card, power on phone, clear browsing history (may not be required), power off phone, reinsert SIM card, and then power on phone. This is required when it prevents navigating away from the prompt message. All the aforementioned explanations in articles and technical support forums did not hold true because after removing the SIM card and still having WiFi connection this activity would have persisted but did not. Remember surveillance programs wanting backdoors to bypass passcodes? What better way then to ask the owner to give the passcode up since most people do not change these often or at all. Now the cell towers can support remote MDM of phone with ubiquity. Note: according to other articles and technical forums Verizon assumes Apple servers are pushing it and Apple has no idea about this, one plus one equals two.

Why should your carrier care how secure your phone is? It just doesn't make sense. And even the carrier has no access to the functionality of iOS without a profile. And if you simply go to the passcode settings and change it to the same passcode the alert goes away. There's no need to jump through any hoops.

Afterthought: Your phone is not even required to have a passcode. A lot of people don't have any passcode at all.

I did not claim the carrier or Apple was doing it. Carriers and Apple are not the only ones with access to cell towers. In the last sentence of my previous comments I stated neither one knew what was causing it, hence one plus one equals two, if not them then it's someone else. The fact of matter is this should not be happening to private phones, which are not under some mobile management program.

Yes, I agree phones are not required to have passcodes; therefore, why does it care about changing the passcode when the only people wanting passcode bypasses are the ones that want backdoors? That is what I am getting at here.

The reason for jumping through hoops is it would not allow bypass without clicking a button (i.e. "Later" or "Continue"). The only option was to restart phone and then the second message appeared with the only option being "Continue" and was unable to be bypassed either. Trojans work by clicking things that are presented.

There are no trojans on iPhones unless they have been jailbroken. It would be safe to click on either button.

Saying that carriers and Apple are not the only ones with access to cell towers falls into the tin-foil hat territory. First, Apple has no access to cell towers. And the only ones other than the carriers with access to cell towers are the NSA and FBI, and I'm sure they don't care whether you change your password or not.

Access to cell towers in sense that Apple pushes packages, not control phones. There is no tin foil hat theories here, the evidence stands on its own: http://editions.lib.umn.edu/mjlst/the-federal-government-wants-your-iphone-passc ode-what-does-the-law-say/

That link has nothing to do with the discussion. It's a legal question, not a technical capability discussion. Citing irrelevant links does not help. Here's a link that is just as meaningful: https://www.thoughtco.com/best-cases-of-alien-abduction-3293341

The previous link was relevant to this discussion and the premise. "When data protection is enabled, each data file is associated with a specific class that supports a different level of accessibility and protects data based on when it needs to be accessed. The encryption and decryption operations associated with each class are based on a complex key hierarchy that utilizes the device's UID and passcode, plus a class key, file system key and per-file key. The per-file key is used to encrypt the file content. The class key is wrapped around the per-file key and stored in the file's metadata. The file system key is used to encrypt the metadata. The UID and passcode protect the class key. The passcode not only unlocks the device, but also becomes inextricably enmeshed with the UID to create iOS encryption keys that are more resistant to hacking efforts and brute-force attacks." (http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/tip/How-iOS-encryption-and-data-prot ection-work).

Hello iziah1,

This prompt will happen if you have something that requires device management. If you have any downloaded profiles, enterprise/education accounts set up, have any configured VPN networks, or have any applications installed that require device management you may get this alert message.

Please, this is an old problem that you might have learned had you searched the forums before making such a long and unnecessary post. I'm sure you meant well, but one of the items discussed in the Apple Support Communities - Terms of Use is to first search the forums about your problem before posting it. Scams such as these have been widespread and oft reported - too oft. 😀