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iPhone security feature can make your phone useless forever

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Mobile phone users often ask for better security for their devices and this is not a bad thing. However, such high-level security may come at a cost that many users will not be willing to pay. Hackers never stop their attempts to defraud unsuspecting users. Unfortunately, some “security” features may just be helping them.

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According to recent reports, there is an iPhone feature that makes it easy for hackers to get access to stolen iPhones. They can also have access to the user’s account and steal money from their bank accounts. In fact, it even prevents the real owners of the phones from ever finding their stolen devices. According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, the recovery key feature on the phone has been a weapon used by crooks to prevent legal iPhone users from accessing their devices. The Journal reports on how iPhone owner Greg Frasca has been unable to access his device since October.

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Frasca stated that he had plans to travel to Apple’s head office in Cupertino to show his identity. In addition, he claims that he would spend $10,000 to regain control of his iPhone. This is due to the eight years’ worth of images of his daughters on the phone. Far too many iPhone users are familiar with what happened to Mr Frasca. In a Chicago bar, his iPhone 14 Pro was stolen, and the thieves changed Frasca’s Apple ID password using his passcode. But by enabling the recovery key, they made sure Greg would never be able to take back control of his stolen iPhone.

Guard your iPhone recovery key with all zealousness – it could make your iPhone useless for life

Apple added the recovery key in 2020. When the feature is active, the user must supply the randomly generated 28-digit “recovery key” each time he changes the password for his Apple ID. This now appears to be a real issue if the iPhone is stolen and ends up in the hands of the bad guys. They will activate the recovery key and it will stop the real owner from using the stolen phone. Furthermore, Frasca is helpless without the phone and the recovery key.
iPhone
At the moment, Apple is aware of the issue and the company wrote …  “We sympathize with people who have had this experience and we take all attacks on our users very seriously, no matter how rare. We work tirelessly every day to protect our users’ accounts and data, and are always investigating additional protections against emerging threats like this one.”
To generate the security key on any iPad or iPhone, follow these simple steps
  • Go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security. At this point, you may need to enter your Apple ID password.
  • Tap Recovery Key.
  • Slide to turn on Recovery Key.
  • Tap Use Recovery Key and enter your device passcode.
  • Write down your recovery key and keep it in a safe place.
  • Confirm your recovery key by entering it on the next screen.
It is very important for users to know that once you create a recovery key, you cannot log back into your Apple account via account recovery. Even if they lack the data they need, users can reset their Apple ID passwords using account recovery. When using the recovery key, a trusted phone number, and an Apple device, an iPhone owner whose device has been stolen or lost can remotely change their Apple ID password.

Apple admits losing this key is dangerous

However, Apple itself acknowledges that if you misplace the recovery key, “you could be permanently locked out of your account.” Also, these crimes are best committed in busy bars. As with many other victims of phone theft, Frasca had his iPhone taken from him in a pub where there are a lot of people peering about and trying to guess a user’s passcode. After obtaining the passcode, the thief devises a plan to take the phone itself.
iPhones
The recovery key can be activated by the thieves with the phone and passcode, locking out the rightful owner. In addition, a new security key can be generated even if one has already been. In either case, the iPhone owner is unable to get into his account again. Or perhaps we could state that although the owner wasn’t supposed to, they did.

One iPhone owner “got lucky” and found support from an Apple rep

Similar to Mr. Frasca, Terry Allen’s iPhone 13 Pro was taken last summer in New York, and it held vital family photos. After calling Apple for months, he eventually spoke with a compassionate Apple agent who sought more details to confirm Allen’s identity. Mr Allen was able to reset his password after Apple removed the security key. He said, “I just got lucky,” but he now stands by his pictures.

If Face ID is not an option, there are some recommendations, such as setting a complex passcode. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Change Passcode in order to do this. The best advice is to have your phone and security key close at hand.

Read Also:  iPhone 16 Pro to have a taller aspect ratio for better vertical content viewing

Conclusion

The Apple security feature is meant to protect users’ devices. However, it could also be a thorn in the user’s flesh if the user is not careful. To avoid this, users should protect their passcodes because without it hackers can not gain access to the account in the first place. Also, hackers can easily peek at users’ passcodes in crowded places.
Source/VIA :
phonearena
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