Vadikcoma

Q: Why iphone doesnt require passcode when switching off

I was just wondering on why iPhone doesn't require passcode when switching off? I got my phone stolen last month, and obviously, first thing thief did - switched it off. So there is no use to Find my iPhone or pretty much anything else. And it seems like such a straight-forward option to protect your phone by keeping it on and tracking it with Find my iPhone.

 

Anyone has any thoughts on this?

iPhone 5s, iOS 9, iOS 9.1

Posted on Sep 15, 2016 8:14 AM

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Q: Why iphone doesnt require passcode when switching off

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  • Helpful answers

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Sep 15, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Vadikcoma
    Level 5 (7,562 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Vadikcoma

    apple.com/feedback.

     

    of course if anyone turns it back on the program is running again without the need for the security code, otherwise it's last location should be available.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 15, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Vadikcoma
    Level 9 (55,588 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Vadikcoma

    Because it would be pointless to do so and it would do nothing but hinder troubleshooting when there is a legitimate problem.

     

    A thief can easily eject the SIM from the phone, rendering it untraceable.

  • by Vadikcoma,

    Vadikcoma Vadikcoma Sep 15, 2016 8:23 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:23 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    Last location doesn't help in any way at all. And these guys are not dumb, they will never turn this phone ON. They will just disassemble it and sell for parts. There goes your phone and Find my iPhone too.

  • by Vadikcoma,

    Vadikcoma Vadikcoma Sep 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to KiltedTim

    Does it hinder any troubleshooting when you have to enter your code when switching on?

     

    I assume that ejecting sim takes at least a needle and some time, when pressing OFF button takes a second.

  • by Klabbelito0,

    Klabbelito0 Klabbelito0 Sep 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to Vadikcoma
    Level 1 (40 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:25 AM in response to Vadikcoma

    Actually as soon as you try to enter the settings for the passcode it requires your code.

    Are you perhaps talking about your pin code for the sim card?

    Or maybe you mean to turn of the phone? Then it still will appear as soon as it's turned on Find my iphone.

     

    I would recommend setting it to lost mode.

  • by Vadikcoma,

    Vadikcoma Vadikcoma Sep 15, 2016 8:28 AM in response to Klabbelito0
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:28 AM in response to Klabbelito0

    No, I'm talking about passcode. Same passcode you use when you switch your phone on.

     

    As soon as your phone stolen and switched off (which usually happens the next moment your phone is stolen) - Find my iPhone becomes totally useless.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 15, 2016 8:32 AM in response to Vadikcoma
    Level 9 (55,588 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 15, 2016 8:32 AM in response to Vadikcoma

    No, it doesn't, because Activation Lock will take over, making the device completely useless to anyone without your iCloud credentials. Since implementing Activation Lock, thefts of iPhones have gone down dramatically.

  • by Vadikcoma,

    Vadikcoma Vadikcoma Sep 15, 2016 8:37 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:37 AM in response to KiltedTim

    They dont need to activate the phone. They will sell it for parts.

  • by Michael Black,

    Michael Black Michael Black Sep 15, 2016 8:41 AM in response to Vadikcoma
    Level 7 (24,472 points)
    Sep 15, 2016 8:41 AM in response to Vadikcoma

    FFind my iPhone was never intended as an anti-theft device because it does nothing to deter theft and it is easily defeated by several methods. Many thieves in major urban areas use simple heavy foil bags to dump stolen phones into as soon as they snatch them up - it's even faster to do that than it is to power off a device.  Heavy foil pouches or bags block all radio signals to and from the low powered radios in smart phones.  The FBI has reported that method as a popular one amongst phone theives for years now.

     

    Activation lock is an anti-theft device and was added subsequently to the rollout of find my iphone.  Some states are now legislatively requiring other manufacturers implement similar disabling technology in their devices.

     

    But find my iphone or any remote tracking system is purely a convenience feature to help in finding a lost device.  It was never intended for tracking down theft.

  • by Vadikcoma,

    Vadikcoma Vadikcoma Sep 15, 2016 8:40 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 15, 2016 8:40 AM in response to KiltedTim

    This is not the question on how to keep your phone ON for as long as possible and use Find my iPhone to actually find your iphone if it was stolen minutes ago and thief is somewhere nearby.