Apple allows downloading outside of the App Store
Apple will allow consumers to download software from outside the App Store for the first time in the European Union as part of a landmark overhaul of its iOS, Safari and App Store offerings.
Bloomberg
Apple’s latest software update – 17.3 – has an important feature that requires you to stop what you’re doing to switch at that moment.
it says Protect stolen devicesAlthough specific offenses protect against it “may”.rarely“According to Apple, two tech journalists and thousands of victims who have lost millions of dollars disagree.
“Many weekends I wake up to emails from victims telling me that this is exactly what happened to them. “They lost decades of photos and life savings and were shocked that their iPhones weren’t as secure as they thought,” said the Wall Street Journal’s senior personal technology columnist. Joanna Stern He said in a telephone interview.
Stern and colleagues Nicole Nguyen I’ve spent the last year reporting on a growing crime around the world: thieves exploiting vulnerabilities in Apple’s—and humanity’s—software.
Scammers ask someone to reveal their password – they often chase people down to bars and pretend to share contacts – or they photograph someone unlocking their phone. Once they get the password, they take the real phone with them.
By the time victims realize their phones are missing, they have already turned off their devices and the crime is in full swing.
“It was a very simple strategy. ‘Get the passcode, get the phone, get the money,'” explains Stern. “The minimum amount usually taken is $10,000.” [from one victim], the maximum amount for a stolen phone is about $50,000. Stern also says that these social engineering crimes have recently targeted more and more seniors.
“We don’t know the exact statistics about it [crime]”But I’ve talked to law enforcement agencies in cities around the world who say, ‘This has become a big problem and we don’t know what to do about it,'” Stern adds.
While law enforcement may not be able to curb this new wave of kidnappings and detentions, Apple’s latest Protect stolen devices There can certainly be benefits. “There’s nothing to lose by turning it on,” Stern agreed.
How to enable stolen device protection
Make sure your iPhone is running the latest operating system 17.3. The easiest way to check this is to go to Settings > General > Software Update.
From here go to settings. First, type “protect stolen device” in the search bar at the top of the screen. You should immediately see the option to click on it. Then Apple says:
Even ifAutomatic update“When the switch is enabled, you often have to go into your settings and manually tap to remove it. (I’m not sure why, but everyone I know has to do this manually, even if they have this feature “enabled”).
- On an iPhone with Face ID: Tap Face ID & Passcode, then enter your passcode.
- On an iPhone with a home button: Tap Touch ID and Passcode, then enter your passcode.
Scroll down to the Stolen device protection section, then tap Turn on protectionA notice: If you don’t see the stolen device protection section, you may need to do this set senior face recognition or Contact ID the first
What does this new attitude do?
Once this feature is activated, thieves cannot access or close your account. Your iPhone now requires additional authentication to access certain information. It also prevents certain changes if it detects that you are not in a trusted location, such as your home or office.
In this case, Apple recommends that you must authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID before you can perform certain actions, including:
- Use the password or passkey stored in the keychain
- Use a payment method saved in Safari (AutoFill)
- Turn off damage mode
- Delete all content and settings
- Apply for a new Apple Card
- View your virtual Apple Card number
- Take some Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet (such as Apple Cash or Savings Transfer).
- Use your iPhone to set up a new device (such as Quick Start).
To make sure your iPhone detects the appropriate locations, go back to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > then scroll to System Services > Important Locations. Make sure it is “ON”.
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Is there a reason not to use stolen device protection?
The only case where enabling this feature might be difficult is if you want to get rid of your current phone and upgrade later. You must wait one hour before making this change
While this is not fail proof, it is an excellent step in curbing this growing crime trend. I’ve heard from many people who think that because they use an Apple device, it can’t be hacked, stolen or scammed.
Although Apple does better than other companies when it comes to security, they say:Work tirelessly Every day to protect all our users from new and emerging threats. We — journalists like Stern and really all of us — must insist that they stay true to their word: “[Apple] “We will continue to develop security measures to ensure the safety of user accounts.”
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Jennifer Jolie He is an Emmy Award-winning consumer technology columnist and on-air correspondent. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of USA TODAY. call him [email protected].
