It ’s almost as if having your iPhone steal is bad than having your menage plume . It ’s not just losing an expensive equipment — your iPhone have so much of your private sprightliness that criminals do n’t even have to do the work of loot your place for hard currency , jewelry , quotation cards , and electronics .
late reportshave detailed how criminals can use your iPhone to recrudesce into your iCloud and bank account to apace drain your finances and slip your identity by permanently locking you out of your Apple write up . That ’s in plus to cutting off contacts , note , e-mail , and pic . How ? Thieves watch out and wait for you to enter your passcode , memorize it , and then snatch up your iPhone out of your mitt while you ’re using it . Once they have your equipment and passcode , they can immediately switch your passcode and Apple ID password , and from there , even the iPhone Recovery Key – the only information Apple currently recognizes as proof of your identity .
Forget everything you know about Find My iPhone and iCloud accompaniment . Once stealer have exchange your phone ’s basic information – which can take just a few minute – encounter My wo n’t help you , and neither will Apple . But it turns out that there ’s a means to prevent it all from happening . You might not do it it , but your iPhone ’s Screen Time lineament hides a fairly bulletproof way to prevent thieves from lock you out of your handset ( and all your other Apple machine ) even if they do get by to steal your phone .
Screen Time for added protection
If you ’re childless and are n’t concerned about how much you use your telephone , chances are you have never used iOS ’s Screen Time feature . But Screen Time has another feature that can prevent anyone from changing your most significant password . Here ’s how it works :
Turn on the Screen Time Passcode setting
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Go to configurations , launchScreen Time , and toggle on theUse Screen Time Passcode . We recommend using a unlike passcode from the one you use to unlock your iPhone for obvious reasons .
Set Content & Privacy Restrictions
Next , go toScreen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictionsand toggle it on if it ’s not already . Then , scroll down to theAllow Changessection , tapAccount Changes , and thenDon’t Allow . That will forbid anyone else who has your phone from get at or change watchword because they would first need to tap in the unique Screen Time password which they wo n’t have .
One caveat : If your iCloud account parole is saved to your Passwords keychain , a stealer could chatter the forgot password button on the Screen Time Thomas Nelson Page , eccentric in your Apple ID and watchword , change the Screen Time passcode , turn on account changes , and then change your countersign .
This simple Screen Time apparatus will cease — or at least deter — anyone from changing your iCloud watchword and using that info from run out your banking company account , set up credit cards in your name , and stealing your identity , as you skin to recover your lost property , secrecy , and saneness . You ’ll still need to replace your iPhone , but this one setting could keep a risky day from becoming a horrible one .
For more assist read : How to encounter a lose or steal iPhone with come up My and other methods
Today I Learned is a Macworld editorial that spotlight lesser - known but useful tips and tricks for Apple user . If you have any ideas for future pillar , air an email to michael_simon@idg.com .
