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Touch ID not required after reboot

I

iMacca44

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 22, 2012
55
46
Hi All,

I've just noticed that after rebooting my phone it says that I need to enter my passcode to unlock the phone, not use Touch ID. My phone then unlocks by just using the passcode...

Is this normal behaviour? It seems to reduce the security of the phone if someone just has to reboot it to avoid Touch ID.

Thanks!
 
iMacca44 said:
Hi All,

I've just noticed that after rebooting my phone it says that I need to enter my passcode to unlock the phone, not use Touch ID. My phone then unlocks by just using the passcode...

Is this normal behaviour? It seems to reduce the security of the phone if someone just has to reboot it to avoid Touch ID.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's always possible to unlock the phone using just the passcode, not just after a reboot.
 
I think you misunderstand TouchID.

It's not intended to be "more secure" than a passcode, it's intended to make having a passcode much more convenient.

Security is enhanced due to (a) users who already used passcodes may be more inclinded to use a complex passcode instead of a PIN and (b) users who couldn't be bothered to have a passcode may be more inclined to have one since TouchID makes it more convenient to use the phone.

TouchID enhances overall security across the population of iphone owners by increasing the number of people using passcodes.
 
its a con

because i dont the same

but got password wrong so its now disabled

i aint backed up with itunes so cant restore from there

i have find my phone switched on but was going to clear the phone but my phone is not picking up internet on my wifi probs because it does not kick in till after the password

so im stuck with a disabled phone

also if this phone was stolen
turned off
restarted
the thief would of tried to guess password and disabled it after 6 goes like me
so whats the point of find my phone as it wont pick phone up anyway till after password is correct and i have left gps on too
 
viewsonic said:
but got password wrong so its now disabled
i aint backed up with itunes so cant restore from there
so im stuck with a disabled phone
so whats the point of find my phone as it wont pick phone up anyway till after password is correct and i have left gps on too
Click to expand...

Kind of difficult to figure out what you're getting it, but I'll try.

How is it you have a phone that has no cellular service? Wifi is a nice bonus, but we're talking about a cellphone which should access the internet over cellular. Even crappy 2G EDGE service is adequate for FindMyiPhone to get a fix.

Worst case, do a DFU restore on your phone. Either restore from your icloud backup or restore-as-new if you failed to make any backup anywhere.

True, FindMyiPhone has its limitations in terms of locating/recovering your phone since a crook can pull the SIM or turn the phone off; thus the new activation lock feature so the phone is unusable if marked Lost. That is aimed not so much to return your phone to you as to reduce thefts over time by eliminating much of the value of stolen iphones.
 
deeddawg said:
Kind of difficult to figure out what you're getting it, but I'll try.

How is it you have a phone that has no cellular service? Wifi is a nice bonus, but we're talking about a cellphone which should access the internet over cellular. Even crappy 2G EDGE service is adequate for FindMyiPhone to get a fix.

Worst case, do a DFU restore on your phone. Either restore from your icloud backup or restore-as-new if you failed to make any backup anywhere.

True, FindMyiPhone has its limitations in terms of locating/recovering your phone since a crook can pull the SIM or turn the phone off; thus the new activation lock feature so the phone is unusable if marked Lost. That is aimed not so much to return your phone to you as to reduce thefts over time by eliminating much of the value of stolen iphones.
Click to expand...

hi thanks

its strange

gps is showing on phone but find my phone not picking it up

dont know why wifi aint showing was ok before i turned the thing off

i never done a icloud back up its is my first iphone so there was no point only took it out of box last night

so if i clear phone with find my phone will it let me back in as says of find my phone page that only restores with internet access

any advice would be great

----------


How is it you have a phone that has no cellular service


its because i cant get pass the pin code its keeps disabling due to wrong pin
How is it you have a phone that has no cellular service it just tried after being locked out for one hour and diabled again
 
Your quickest solution is probably to do a DFU restore. Google the instructions. Be aware it'll require a computer with itunes and will wipe your phone completely.

If your phone is on iOS7 make sure you know your AppleID and password first; if you're unsure go to appleid.apple.com
 
deeddawg said:
Your quickest solution is probably to do a DFU restore. Google the instructions. Be aware it'll require a computer with itunes and will wipe your phone completely.

If your phone is on iOS7 make sure you know your AppleID and password first; if you're unsure go to appleid.apple.com
Click to expand...


i tried wiping device with find my phone

but just saying pending probs because of no internet as not entered correct passcode

whats the point of find my phone surly once someone turns it off your never going to get it back because of that pin code blocking internet access


what is a dfu restore will it put io7 back on my phone .
 
viewsonic said:
because of no internet as not entered correct passcode
Click to expand...

You keep mentioning this, but cellular data and Find My iPhone isn't disabled when you've entered the wrong PIN too many times.

To test I just turned off wifi and entered an incorrect PIN enough times for it to show "iPhone is Disabled". Phone was still detectable via icloud.com FindMyiPhone and I was able to send a "Make a sound" alert to the phone while disabled.

I don't doubt you have something weird going on, but incorrectly assuming that PIN disablement disables FindMyiPhone. The exception might be if the phone gets to the stage where it self-wipes, but you'd have to be pretty determined to enter the wrong PIN that many times.

viewsonic said:
what is a dfu restore will it put io7 back on my phone .
Click to expand...

It's a full wipe of the phone; as I said, google the term. It'll put iOS7 on the phone. Expect it to require your AppleID and password to activate the phone.
 
Last edited:
deeddawg said:
You keep mentioning this, but cellular data and Find My iPhone isn't disabled when you've entered the wrong PIN too many times.

To test I just turned off wifi and entered an incorrect PIN enough times for it to show "iPhone is Disabled". Phone was still detectable via icloud.com FindMyiPhone and I was able to send a "Make a sound" alert to the phone while disabled.

I don't doubt you have something weird going on, but you're assumption that PIN disablement also disables FindMyiPhone is incorrect. The exception might be if the phone gets to the stage where it self-wipes, but you'd have to be pretty determined to enter the wrong PIN that many times.



It's a full wipe of the phone; as I said, google the term. It'll put iOS7 on the phone. Expect it to require your AppleID and password to activate the phone.
Click to expand...


thanks not sure why it aint picking up wifi unless its something to do with my settings on the phone?
anyway tried what u said now have a blank screen phone wont even turn on whats the next step
cheers
 
update

its now in recover mode and its putting io7 on again once done will my phone be like it was yesterday then?

still doing my head in why find my phone never worked tho

also deeddawg if i ever see you in the uk im buying you a beer
 
viewsonic said:
its now in recover mode and its putting io7 on again once done will my phone be like it was yesterday then?
Click to expand...

good to hear. when it's done it'll come up like fresh out of the box and you'll have the choice of setup as new or restore from backup. Might be worth trying to restore from an icloud backup; if you ever signed into icloud it might have automatically set it up to do a backup. Doesn't hurt to give it a go since it'll ask which backup to use if any exist after giving your appleID and password. Worst case you just setup the phone as new.


also deeddawg if i ever see you in the uk im buying you a beer
Click to expand...

It's deal. No idea when I'll ever make it to the uk, but I'll hoist a pint in your honor tonight nonetheless. :)
 
They should let you use your fingerprint after reboot it's way more secure... The whole world can see a huge number screen into which you are forced to put your passcode whereas no one can tell your thumbprint... Truly backwards
 
Davedoug said:
They should let you use your fingerprint after reboot it's way more secure... The whole world can see a huge number screen into which you are forced to put your passcode whereas no one can tell your thumbprint... Truly backwards
Click to expand...

It would be less secure to not require a passcode. The passcode is used to entangle the hardware UUID and other encryption keys to unlock the device and gain access to the secure element where the Touch ID information it kept. There is more information on this within Apple's security whitepaper. PS: It isn't always a good idea to revive a multi-year old thread.
 
Davedoug said:
They should let you use your fingerprint after reboot it's way more secure... The whole world can see a huge number screen into which you are forced to put your passcode whereas no one can tell your thumbprint... Truly backwards
Click to expand...

You can enable a complex passcode, then no more "huge number screen"
 
No one wants to use a passcode, just do what the people want and let us use our fingerprints

----------

Besides, why would anyone want to use a complex number code (time wasting), when the fingerprint is far more complex and quicker
 
Davedoug said:
No one wants to use a passcode, just do what the people want and let us use our fingerprints
Click to expand...
Reread post #16. After a reboot, your fingerprints aren't taken out of the secure enclave and decrypted until after you've first proven who you are. And since you can't use fingerprints to prove who you are, you have to use your passcode.
 
Antiquated... Apple should admit when it's weong or when it's been caught sleeping. Don't worry, a future iPad will have the capabilities everyone wants. Peace.
 
Davedoug said:
No one wants to use a passcode, just do what the people want and let us use our fingerprints

----------

Besides, why would anyone want to use a complex number code (time wasting), when the fingerprint is far more complex and quicker
Click to expand...

The passcode is required because, what if, your fingerprint doesn't work? Will you then just be locked out of your phone? No..the passcode is a backup.

Also, how often does the average person reboot their phone? I'd imagine most people only do it every few weeks, if ever. Other than that, they can always use their fingerprint. I don't see how this is an issue.
 
Davedoug said:
Antiquated... Apple should admit when it's weong or when it's been caught sleeping. Don't worry, a future iPad will have the capabilities everyone wants. Peace.
Click to expand...

What are they wrong about and what's antiquated again?
 
Davedoug said:
They should let you use your fingerprint after reboot it's way more secure... The whole world can see a huge number screen into which you are forced to put your passcode whereas no one can tell your thumbprint... Truly backwards
Click to expand...

The idea of having Touch ID is to make your password precisley not just 4 digits but rather more complex. It all makes sense with the failed attempts and restart because it makes it harder to fool Touch ID. It's not backwards at all, it's more secure since a thief only has 5 attempts before the phone asks for the passcode which makes absolute sense. Again same for a reboot, it's not like you reboot your phone every day. I think the reboot thing also cannot be changed because the way it's implemented with the secure element.
Now the 48 hour Touch ID rule in the itunes store on the other hand is something which should be changed to like 1 month because right now it's basically pointless unless you buy something every day.
 
Last edited:
Davedoug said:
No one wants to use a passcode, just do what the people want and let us use our fingerprints

----------

Besides, why would anyone want to use a complex number code (time wasting), when the fingerprint is far more complex and quicker
Click to expand...

I'm not saying to use a complex passcode instead of Touch ID. You said a 4 digit passcode is insecure, so enabling a complex passcode resolves that.

You can use your fingerprints. Except when the device has been rebooted(almost never) or left for more than 48 hours. It provides an added layer of security, and allows you to unlock the device in the event the Touch ID sensor has failed.
 
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