Any way to mitigate loss in a robbery

[rijc99]

Recently in LA there was a strong arm robbery of two kids 16&18 where the robbers demanded the passcodes of the iPhones before they released the victims.

With the passcode they can immediately put the phone into airplane mode and copy down all the saved passwords, use the wallet cards in addition to a number of different apps that don’t have their own individual passcode locks. Photos, Apple Cash, Nest cam, apple home door lock, alarm apps, etc.

Is there any way to mitigate this in iOS? I know android has a guest user mode that you can give the code to which would limit access. Is there anything that can duplicate that or come close?

 

[TwitchyPuppy]

The pin to unlock the phone isn’t the same thing as the iCloud password. So unless they could copy the user’s biometrics (face or fingerprints) OR figured out the iCloud password, most likely won’t be able to do much.
The victims could also put their phones in Lost mode, using their iCloud account!

 

[rijc99]

The pin to unlock the phone isn’t the same thing as the iCloud password. So unless they could copy the user’s biometrics (face or fingerprints) OR figured out the iCloud password, most likely won’t be able to do much.
The victims could also put their phones in Lost mode, using their iCloud account!

If they have the phone unlock code they can put it in airplane mode preventing lost mode. Use transfer Apple Cash, use apple wallet cards, view your auto fill passwords, view your iCloud saved passwords, view your home cameras (ok, maybe not this one if they turn cellular off), unlock your house door using apple home, etc.

Probably also would take some time to get to a device to put the phone into lost mode. I wonder if they can preemptively remove devices or erase devices since they can access your findmy app with the passcode.

 

[Paddle1]

If they have the phone unlock code they can put it in airplane mode preventing lost mode. Use transfer Apple Cash, use apple wallet cards, view your auto fill passwords, view your iCloud saved passwords, view your home cameras (ok, maybe not this one if they turn cellular off), unlock your house door using apple home, etc.

Probably also would take some time to get to a device to put the phone into lost mode. I wonder if they can preemptively remove devices or erase devices since they can access your findmy app with the passcode.

By default, Airplane Mode doesn't require a passcode.

 

[rijc99]

By default, Airplane Mode doesn't require a passcode.

You're right it is available by default. I have control center turned off in “Allow Access When Locked".

 

[addamas]

I think Guided Access would be good here. If I understood how it work, you can share someone a phone and it will block itself after certain time. I used it to „freeze” usage to only one app - for instance when I was sharing notes or shared pictures on iPad.

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Guided Access limits your device to a single app and lets you control which features are available. You can turn on Guided Access when you let a child use your device, or when accidental gestures might distract you.

support.apple.com

 

[Paddle1]

You're right it is available by default. I have control center turned off in “Allow Access When Locked".

Do you have Siri disabled as well?

 

[Itinj24]

Probably also would take some time to get to a device to put the phone into lost mode. I wonder if they can preemptively remove devices or erase devices since they can access your findmy app with the passcode.

This is exactly why I always advocated for devices to be included in “Find My” for Apple Watch (also to be able to locate them if lost without having to use some stranger’s device). I’ve written several feature requests to Apple for this and it finally came. You can put the phone in “Lost Mode” right from “Find Devices” on the Apple Watch.

 

[rijc99]

Do you have Siri disabled as well?

Not currently. Would you recommend disabling it?

 

[rijc99]

This is exactly why I always advocated for devices to be included in “Find My” for Apple Watch (also to be able to locate them if lost without having to use some stranger’s device). I’ve written several feature requests to Apple for this and it finally came. You can put the phone in “Lost Mode” right from “Find Devices” on the Apple Watch.

Will check this out. ?

 

[Paddle1]

Not currently. Would you recommend disabling it?

I don't have it disabled. But that's another way that Airplane Mode can be enabled.

 

[rijc99]

I don't have it disabled. But that's another way that Airplane Mode can be enabled.

They might have changed it in the beta or possibly disabling control center while locked affects Siri behavior because mine is asking me to unlock before Siri could put it in airplane mode. But it is a good point about Siri. I’ll have to test it to see what info can be pulled while locked via Siri.

 

[Paddle1]

They might have changed it in the beta or possibly disabling control center while locked affects Siri behavior because mine is asking me to unlock before Siri could put it in airplane mode. But it is a good point about Siri. I’ll have to test it to see what info can be pulled while locked via Siri.

After some testing it does seem to change if you disable Control Center. I had no idea that setting had a connection to Siri.

 

[Reggaenald]

If they have the phone unlock code they can put it in airplane mode preventing lost mode. Use transfer Apple Cash, use apple wallet cards, view your auto fill passwords, view your iCloud saved passwords, view your home cameras (ok, maybe not this one if they turn cellular off), unlock your house door using apple home, etc.

Probably also would take some time to get to a device to put the phone into lost mode. I wonder if they can preemptively remove devices or erase devices since they can access your findmy app with the passcode.

Like you said, with the passcode they have access to Keychain and can delete your other devices in Find My. Reality is with the iPhone password a whole lot of information can be accessed and modified, too many for my liking. In my case, my banking apps can be accessed with the passcode, they could even send my money to a different account.
Never share your iPhone passcode. Never. If someone would hold me at gunpoint, demanding my passcode, I would probably have no other option than to not give it to them.

I think Guided Access would be good here. If I understood how it work, you can share someone a phone and it will block itself after certain time. I used it to „freeze” usage to only one app - for instance when I was sharing notes or shared pictures on iPad.

Use Guided Access with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Guided Access limits your device to a single app and lets you control which features are available. You can turn on Guided Access when you let a child use your device, or when accidental gestures might distract you.

support.apple.com

Guided access wouldn’t work in this case. It is a great tool if you want to lock your device to one app, for example as a music browser at a party. But if it’s not enabled before you get robbed, it won’t be useful during or after that.

 

[Wagbh]

I've always been an advocate of being able to add a 'duress code' feature for iPhone, which would either time-lock/wipe the phone if coerced to enter one, specifically for those situations for instance.

 

[now i see it]

Recently in LA there was a strong arm robbery of two kids 16&18 where the robbers demanded the passcodes of the iPhones before they released the victims

In that situation, you’re royally screwed. The bad guys can demand the Apple ID password too.
Don’t want to give it to them? Get smashed in the face. Still don’t want to give it to them? Get kicked in the soft parts.
There’s no end to the torture a psychopath can inflict to get what he wants.