How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by mschuster91 on Wednesday May 08, 2019 @04:32PM (#19862608)

He did, I believe. The question is, if I were a criminal and robbed someone at gunpoint for their iPhone, would it make any sense to not ask the victim about their iCloud password at the same time? I'd still be going down with armed robbery if caught, but if not caught I'd still be ahead either over $150 to pay for a corrupt Apple manager to unlock it or have the bad luck of being recorded on Apple security cameras while spoofing the Genius Bar employee with a fake invoice?

I don't care much about the repair industry, they can sell every part of a phone, both legit or stolen, except the display and the logic board. The display can't be resold anyway as it will have been extensively scratched anyway and the logic board rarely breaks.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by jmkni on Thursday May 09, 2019 @06:25AM (#19866872)

I legitimately don't know my iCloud password, it's in (and generated by) my password manager, so if my phone asks me for it, I need to go to my PC and open Keepass.

I'm a bit fucked if I get mugged!

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by snypox on Thursday May 09, 2019 @09:59AM (#19868338)

That’s the best solution to the problem if you ask me. I wonder how would a thief react to that response tho.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by Someone on Wednesday May 08, 2019 @07:53PM (#19864092)

I think it may be stretching it a bit, but do not rule out that “Asking” for a password and using it or forcing a user to use it could be seen as breaking into a computer system.

If so, this could lead to an additional sentence, for cybercrime.

As a robber, you probably also do not really want to spend time “negotiating” with your victim over their password, thus giving them more time to see your face, spot your accent, etc.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by gruez on Wednesday May 08, 2019 @09:42PM (#19864619)

>If so, this could lead to an additional sentence, for cybercrime.

I think you're giving criminals too much credit here. Risking a few years in jail to get $200 when you can get that risk free working a minimum wage job means they either don't care about the punishment, or they don't think they're going to be caught.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How Hackers and Scammers Break into iCloud-Locked iPhones by mengmeng on Thursday May 09, 2019 @02:43AM (#19865942)

but you haven't worked a minimum wage job. and that hasn't been the only option available to you.

[ Parent | on HN ]