A recent report published by The Wall Street Journal exposed criminals stealing iPhones by spying on the victim’s passcode and gaining access to their data and money. With knowledge of their iPhone’s passcode, thieves can reset the victim’s Apple ID and turn off the tracking feature, which prevents the owner from tracking the location or remotely erasing the device. Additionally, the thieves can access banking apps and change an Apple ID’s contact information and set up a new recovery key, making it nearly impossible for the actual owner to recover the account.
This news has sent shock waves through the Apple world, with an Apple spokesperson speaking out, stating that the company works “tirelessly every day to protect all our users from new and emerging threats.” Following this report, the Wall Street Journal journalist–Joanna Stern–recommended that Apple take additional action to protect consumers, such as adding extra protections to iOS and introduce additional Apple ID account recovery options.
Even though Apple is taking steps to help protect their consumers, there are precautionary measures that we as users can take to help defend our accounts. First, Joanna Stern recommends that users switch from a four-digit passcode to an alphanumeric passcode, which is more difficult to breach by intruders. Additionally, we can use Face ID or Touch ID whenever in public and cover up our device when entering our passcode. Last, Stern recommends using a password manager, such as 1Password, to store our bank account passwords to make it harder for crooks to gain access.
Don’t let yourself become a victim of theft! Follow these tips and ensure your privacy and security. And, be sure to stay updated on Apple’s security measures in order to protect your device and data. Comment down below if you know of any additional safety measures we can take!
