You’ll Want to Use Apple’s New Anti-Stolen Device Feature
Privacy and security are an important element of Apple’s business model. When you buy an iPhone, Apple wants you to know that your iMessages are encrypted, Face ID is secure, and you have features to block trackers while you browse the web.
While it’s true that Apple has a lot of great features to keep your data safe, they’re far from perfect. Back in February, a Wall Street Journal investigation found that iPhone thieves were able to reset their victims’ iCloud passwords from a stolen device, allowing them to simultaneously take possession of the stolen iPhone and the Apple ID attached to it. This is possible if the thief knows your iPhone passcode, and it could be easy to find out if he snoops over your shoulder while you enter it. While there are many iCloud features that require your Apple ID password to access, resetting your iCloud Password to get started only requires your iPhone password. If a thief spies on your numbers before stealing, they could break into your phone and take over your digital life.
When this report came out, we recommended certain workarounds to protect yourself, such as using an alphanumeric passcode on your iPhone, not entering the passcode when someone else is nearby, and avoiding storing financial information on your unlocked device. However, the workarounds are not perfect. Fortunately, the first step towards solving the problem arrived in the iOS 17.3 developer beta.
Stolen Device Protection Can Stop Thieves from Taking Your iPhone
In the new iOS 17.3 developer beta , in addition to bringing back shared playlists to Apple Music (thank goodness), iOS 17.3 introduces a new Stolen Device Protection feature. With this feature enabled, Face ID or Touch ID (if your iPhone has a Home button) will be required when accessing passwords and passkeys, making purchases using saved cards in Safari, applying for an Apple Card, viewing your digital Apple Card, removing all content and settings, doing some Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet, turning off Lost Mode, and using iPhone to set up a new device.
Additionally, some features will require Face ID or Touch ID and will experience a one-hour delay when attempting to enable them. This includes changing your Apple ID password, updating certain Apple ID account security settings, changing your iPhone passcode, adjusting Face ID or Touch ID settings, turning off Find My, and turning off Stolen Device Protection itself.
In any case, you won’t be able to enter your password if Face ID or Touch ID doesn’t work. You’ll probably have the opportunity to try again if the scan doesn’t work (say, you forgot to take off your sunglasses), but the attackers will consider their efforts in vain.
How to enable anti-stolen device protection on iPhone
To get started, you’ll need iOS 17.3 or later. After updating, go to Settings > Face ID & Password > Stolen Device Protection . If you’re using the beta, you may see a pop-up inviting you to test the feature, but if you’re using the public version of iOS 17.3, which Apple will release in the future, you won’t see it.
If you do not want this feature to continue, you can return to this page to disable it. However, remember that there is a one-hour delay when you try to disable this feature.