help with iPhone

[nedenow]

hi, my friend lost her iPhone on a cab few days back and she could no longer track it even using "find my iPhone" app. my question is:

1) does it mean someone has factory reset the phone, and even the "find my iPhone" app data & apple ID were deleted as well?

2) is it safe to say the information in the phone is fully erased, since there is a screen lock, it will be disabled with multiple tries and the only way should be to factory reset it?

3) will she be able to approach telco to assist to track the person who activates the phone with his sim, since iPhone requires sim card activation


4) or is there anyway it can track?

thanks for your help!

 

[speedster4005]

If the device is in iOS 7, then:

1. With the latest version of iTunes, I think it won't allow to factory reset when the Find My iPhone is enabled. Not sure though (I restored my iPhone a couple of weeks back on a different machine - it did not ask for the password before proceeding.) In any case, Activation Lock kicks in and the device is rendered useless unless the one who finds it is able to break the password of the Apple Id set in the iCloud account.

2. Well, the only thing the finder can do is restore it if he/she is unable to unlock it. Effectively removing the user data.

3. Lodge a police report - make sure you have a proof of ownership such as the box or telco contract. It will be registered into SPEX so that future buyers can check whether the 2nd hand phone they are buying are either lost or stolen. That would also contain the IMEI of the phone that uniquely identifies it. I think the Telco can only deactivate the SIM.

4. No other way if the phone was erased. But, your friend can mark it now as "Lost Mode" in Find My iPhone. She can then send a message too for the finder to see (regardless oif the phone's data was wiped or not). Anyway, the finder cannot use it due to Activation lock. It is, somehow, in a way, a bricked" device.

 

[bagger 288]

Should had installed iCaughtU Pro.
I believe they go into DFU mode and restore

 

[nedenow]

If the device is in iOS 7, then:

1. With the latest version of iTunes, I think it won't allow to factory reset when the Find My iPhone is enabled. Not sure though (I restored my iPhone a couple of weeks back on a different machine - it did not ask for the password before proceeding.) In any case, Activation Lock kicks in and the device is rendered useless unless the one who finds it is able to break the password of the Apple Id set in the iCloud account.

2. Well, the only thing the finder can do is restore it if he/she is unable to unlock it. Effectively removing the user data.

3. Lodge a police report - make sure you have a proof of ownership such as the box or telco contract. It will be registered into SPEX so that future buyers can check whether the 2nd hand phone they are buying are either lost or stolen. That would also contain the IMEI of the phone that uniquely identifies it. I think the Telco can only deactivate the SIM.

4. No other way if the phone was erased. But, your friend can mark it now as "Lost Mode" in Find My iPhone. She can then send a message too for the finder to see (regardless oif the phone's data was wiped or not). Anyway, the finder cannot use it due to Activation lock. It is, somehow, in a way, a bricked" device.

does it mean there's no way to track the phone anymore? it is either rendered useless or happen reactivate it?

the thing is she is not sure whether she on the "find my iPhone" app because it simply state offline. so if she did not on the "find my iPhone" app, does that mean the phone can easily be reactivated? or the activation is tied to apple id.

thanks!

 

[badsector]

does it mean there's no way to track the phone anymore? it is either rendered useless or happen reactivate it?

the thing is she is not sure whether she on the "find my iPhone" app because it simply state offline. so if she did not on the "find my iPhone" app, does that mean the phone can easily be reactivated? or the activation is tied to apple id.

thanks!

so what if u can track it? u cant do anyway.

IOS 7 with Find my iphone 'ON' then got activation lock. tied to ur appleid
it would be sold as old spare parts and more e-waste....

 

[nedenow]

so what if u can track it? u cant do anyway.

IOS 7 with Find my iphone 'ON' then got activation lock. tied to ur appleid
it would be sold as old spare parts and more e-waste....

thanks!

I just want to learn more about the app for myself, in case i happen to lose it in the future, since im an iphone user myself.

not all users are tech savvy, thats why we want to get as much info as possible, especially to protect one's data when one misplace her phone.

well the positive thing is no personal info will be stolen, either be reset and reactivated or as you said sold as spare parts.

thanks so much for all your clarification!

 

[nedenow]

Should had installed iCaughtU Pro.
I believe they go into DFU mode and restore

thanks, didn't know such an app exist! i will install it for myself

 

[bagger 288]

thanks, didn't know such an app exist! i will install it for myself

Need to jailbreak.

Go read it up on the tweak.
Basically even the sim was change also can track down the iPhone. And there's a option to prevent power off too.

 

[maxheadroom]

I lost my iphone last year before the ios7. What your friend can do is to make a police online report. Then which you use the report and call the taxi company which ever she took from and ask them to contact the driver at which time and date, or lost & found dpt for help.
I didn't manage to get it back though I know the driver must have took it. & I believe your friend iphone is lock and useless to sell on the market(unless they take the part out and sell), it is also that not able to get it back.

And believe me, if the find my iphone is lock, it as good as paper weight. I sold my wife iphone 5 without turning off feature, and the ah beng look for me for few months to track my contact at hardwarezone forum to do the unlock.

 

[nedenow]

I lost my iphone last year before the ios7. What your friend can do is to make a police online report. Then which you use the report and call the taxi company which ever she took from and ask them to contact the driver at which time and date, or lost & found dpt for help.
I didn't manage to get it back though I know the driver must have took it. Although I believe your friend iphone is lock and useless to sell on the market(unless they take the part out and sell), it is also that not able to get it back.

And believe me, if the find my iphone is lock, it as good as paper weight. I sold my wife iphone 5 without turning off feature, and the ah beng look for me for few months to track my contact at hardwarezone forum to do the unlock.

good to hear that FMI apps works well with iOS7. not blaming others for our own carelessness, but it's good to hear that either way, no personal info will be stolen

 

[Kijori]

if Find My iPhone is not turn ON, then there is no way you can remotely erase the contents of the iPhone as well as track its movements.

if it's turn ON, and with iOS7, you can activate the Lost Mode function. whoever that is having your iPhone can't use the device as it needs your Apple ID and Password for activation. they can restore the device and still won't be able to use it as activation is required.