How Find my IPhone works?

[Perene]

I had an iPhone 4S that didn't work the wifi, but you could use 4G. I lost the phone and managed to log into the iCloud account that shows this device in it, however I had to change the iCloud password from that account, because I didn't remember the old one.

First of all, this login was blocked for some reason. I unblocked by sending a request to the email login, then I defined a new password.

After all that, I used an iPad and configured to activate the LOST mode, and a sound alert. The FIND MY PHONE says it's offline. I also told it to notify me when found the device.

Here's what I don't understand, and that also applies for the iPad.

A) if someone uses a 4G plan, then immediately the device will be locked, even though it may not even be logged to this apple login/password? Meaning that only the iPhone identification in Apple servers will suffice to recognize it, no matter what?

B) is it possible to wipe the device (offline) to factory settings, and once connected to the internet again, what will happen? See A)

C) is there a way to bypass this lost mode, once the phone is caught in it? Because if there is an easy way for the average user, then it's kind of useless, except for sending the last location.

 

[iphonedude2008]

I had an iPhone 4S that didn't work the wifi, but you could use 4G. I lost the phone and managed to log into the iCloud account that shows this device in it, however I had to change the iCloud password from that account, because I didn't remember the old one.

First of all, this login was blocked for some reason. I unblocked by sending a request to the email login, then I defined a new password.

After all that, I used an iPad and configured to activate the LOST mode, and a sound alert. The FIND MY PHONE says it's offline. I also told it to notify me when found the device.

Here's what I don't understand, and that also applies for the iPad.

A) if someone uses a 4G plan, then immediately the device will be locked, even though it may not even be logged to this apple login/password? Meaning that only the iPhone identification in Apple servers will suffice to recognize it, no matter what?

B) is it possible to wipe the device (offline) to factory settings, and once connected to the internet again, what will happen? See A)

C) is there a way to bypass this lost mode, once the phone is caught in it? Because if there is an easy way for the average user, then it's kind of useless, except for sending the last location.

A. I'm not perfectly sure, but I think it will wipe as soon as it connects to the internet, regardless of 4g or wifi.
B. If someone else takes your phone and wipes it with Find my iPhone still enabled (which it is), then when they try to set it up, they will run into activation lock, requiring your apple ID you used for Find my iPhone in order to use the phone. That doesn't stop a lot of thieves though, as they just sell phones as activation locked online
C. No, you can't bypass it without entering the code you set

That sucks to lose your phone. Hope you get your phone back!

 

[Perene]

I found the iPhone later, and it worked, since once I used my passcode and only then accessed the 4G, it asked for it again. Luckly, it already had a passcode before.