Apple

[embla]

Hi. My iphone 4 was stolen yesterday and after initially sending a msg and a lock request through find my phone (neither of which seems to have gone through), I called the police once I got home and then vodafone to report it stolen. Vodafone blocked the sim and IMEI thing. 

This morning I started panicking that maybe there was a way to get around the passcode (I probably didn't even need to lock it as I have a timed lock and it was almost certainly locked when the thief took it), anyway, I decided to initiate a wipe request through find my phone, which now states my phone is offline (as opposed to "not located" like it was yesterday). 

So, my question is - is it possible for the wipe order to go through if the thief turns it on, even though the phone should now be devoid of network capabilities? I called vodafone and apple and they both say the wipe should go through, but the icloud website says it will go through "when it connects to the internet"... so if network capabilities are off, how will that work?

Do I need to ask vodafone to lift the bar on at least the IMEI to get my data off the phone?

Thanks in advance for your input/experiences.

[jeffkinn]

I would imagine that a Wi Fi connection would serve the same purpose as connecting to the mobile network. But the Apple system is far from perfect. If GPS is turned off when the phone connects to a network Find my iPhone won't find it.

Normally to get around a lock the phone is connected to iTunes and restored as new. This in itself has the effect of wiping the data off the phone so the thief will achieve your objective for you.

[embla]

Not sure if gps is "on" - I had it enabled for certain apps like map and camera so it definitely wasn't totally off. But yeah, it's a relief that the thief would have to wipe it anyway to get around the lock - not that there's anything supersensitive like nude photos or the like, just feels like such an invasion of privacy!

I did read somewhere though that the data could be accessed by connecting with an Ubuntu OS... not sure if that work around still exists, and highly unlikely the thief would be that interested I guess.

Thanks for your input!

[kids]

The chances are that the steps you have taken will ensure that the data in the iPhone cannot be acccesed. However for your own peace of mind it is worthwhile changing your password for iTunes and for any email accounts that were on the phone plus anything else on the phone that had the password stored.

Although the IMEI has been blacklisted that is not a database that is operated worldwide so the thief could sell you phone to an overseas buyer although the phone would have to be wiped clean first,so any information on it would be erased. I don't think that is has been possible to use Ubunto to hack an iPhone after the 3GS.

[embla]

Thanks for that, it's a relief to know that the hack shouldn't work anymore!

I've changed my email passwords and facebook and removed the card info off my apple id account - I hesitated on changing the password in case that might interfere with the data wipe... Although it would be ridiculous and counter-productive if it did. Any ideas on that one?

[kids]

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embla wrote:
Thanks for that, it's a relief to know that the hack shouldn't work anymore!

I've changed my email passwords and facebook and removed the card info off my apple id account - I hesitated on changing the password in case that might interfere with the data wipe... Although it would be ridiculous and counter-productive if it did. Any ideas on that one?

Once you use FMP to send a data wipe you should change your password, it is one of the recommendations that Apple make.

Changing the password will not interfere with FMP trying to wipe the data.

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[embla]

Done! Thanks for your help.