Pro tip: Even if your employer or educational institution requires a complex passcode via MDM, you can still access the "quick entry" numeric keypad for your passcode.
Just to be sure that you can unlock your device locally if you do re-enable Find My iPhone, it's a good idea to set a passcode.
(If you aren't using it, best to uncheck Back to my Mac as well - if your iCloud password was compromised then BTMM could also be a security risk.) Scroll to the bottom of the list on the right. On the Mac, the process is just as simple.
In this post, I'll explain how to disable Find My iPhone/iPad and Find My Mac, as well as how to create a passcode on your iOS device. It's noteworthy that iPhone users who have a passcode in place should be able to recover access, as long as the passcode was created outside of setting up Find My iPhone. The normally-helpful (or at least benign) Find My X services can indeed be used for ill, as Wired's Mat Honan learned last year to his regret. Australia's The Age reports information acquired by recent security breaches, combined with the human tendency to reuse security credentials across services, may have led to the lockouts. It's been a rough day Down Under several iOS and Mac users have found their devices held "ransom" by a hacker leveraging Apple's Find My iPhone and Find My Mac services. Reports indicate that the hack won't work properly when passcodes are text-based, so those with a classic four-digit numerical pin are considered most at risk.Note: Here's how to enable 2-step authentication for your Apple ID. In the meantime, there is one thing iPhone users can do to prevent themselves from being attacked.
are aware of the issue and will deliver a fix in a future software update." (Source: .uk) According to Apple, the company "takes user security very seriously. do not use this trick to do evil." Apple Fix Coming in Future UpdateĪpple has reportedly acknowledged the security vulnerability and promises to mend the issue in due time. "Use it as you want," he goes on, before adding, "please. The video's producer, whose user name is "videosdebarraquito," tells viewers they should use the guide "For prank your friends," or "for a magic show." The video was actually published at the end of January, but was not well-known until this past week. However, if the step-by-step guide the video's producer provides is carried out correctly, the would-be hacker is able to listen to private conversations as if they were a participant in the call.
The tutorial itself is a bit confusing, as the individual behind it does very little talking. When attempting to delve deeper into the software, however, the hacker is sent back to the passcode screen and the process is repeated. Once a device has been compromised, hackers have complete access to the emails, photos, etc. However, a YouTube video (aptly named "How to Bypass iPhone 5 Passcode on iOS 6.1") provides step-by-step instructions for getting around this security wall. The majority of Apple iPhone owners currently have some kind of password lock screen protecting their device.
Security analysts are warning that a new iOS 6.1 hack could allow someone to bypass the security of an iPhone 5 and covertly spy on a user's private messages and conversations.