A week ago, Apple released the first beta version of iOS 17.3. The key innovation in it is the appearance of the mode Stolen Device Protection.
It is suggested to enable it both during the initial setup of the iPhone and after updating the firmware. Many will agree and be pleased. But the mode has one feature that should be kept in mind before activation.
Because otherwise and in an unforeseen circumstance, you will lose some of the data on the device and lose access to a number of key functions, even if you did not lose it. You will also create a lot of inconvenience for yourself.
Even a software bug is enough, and welcome to mini-hell.
What is the Stolen Device Protection mode in iOS 17.3?
Apple listened to years of requests from security experts – and added to iOS, in addition to the already existing Lockdown mode, a mode for enhanced device protection against theft.
Stolen Device Protection makes changes to how iPhone works:
• to access saved passwords becomes MANDATORY Face ID to make sure it’s you
• changing sensitive settings, such as Apple ID password, occurs with a delay of 1 hour
• resetting settings or data is impossible without Face ID, as is unlinking the device from Apple ID
Any actions related to personal data or card data will require mandatory authentication via Face ID. Between each similar action there will be delay at the same time
You can find the new option in the menu Settings -> Face ID & Passcode -> Stolen Device Protection
It seems convenient and useful. What’s the problem then?
The problem is this.
If you have Stolen Device Protection turned on and you accidentally damage Face ID, you won’t be able to reset your iPhone. No way.
Moreover, if you are simply faced with a Face ID recognition problem or a software glitch due to which the sensor stops working for a while, then you will not be able to access your passwords on your smartphone or use autofill on websites and applications in any other way.
Now guess what happened to my iPhone 13 Pro Max a couple of days after installing iOS 17.3 and enabling the new mode. Right: Face ID stopped working in it.
This has already happened to me before out of the blue and was subsequently treated on its own. I never found the reason; resetting and reconfiguring did not help. Naturally, physically and technically the sensor itself is completely in order, everything works correctly. Something is just wrong on the software side.
In such situations, I could continue to use my iPhone as before. Without the Stolen Device Protection mode, I still had access to all the passwords and autofill, I just had to enter them the code-password.
With the new mode of this option NO. Either Face ID or go for a walk. Well, as icing on the cake, the funniest fact: The mode cannot be turned off without authorization via Face ID.
Enable at your own risk
In more than two years of using the iPhone 13 Pro Max, I encountered Face ID problems four times. I don’t know about you. Maybe I was just unlucky and this is a rare situation. Maybe it’s my own fault.
But let’s say something bad happened to a person (God forbid) and now Face ID on his own iPhone cannot recognize his face. If Stolen Device Protection is enabled, the device will lose access to all passwords, and the smartphone will lose some functionality. You won’t be able to turn off Face ID either, because it will require… that’s right, Face ID.
Ultimately, I hope that Apple will improve this protection mechanism and add the ability to somehow turn off the mode on the device. For example, using another device, confirmation from a trusted contact, or something else that does not require Face ID to work on the gadget.
Either this mode should not be offered to people during initial setup, because it entails many risks. Otherwise, it turns out that you become hostage to the correct operation of a single and generally not the most critical spare part in the iPhone.
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iPhones.ru A week ago, Apple released the first beta version of iOS 17.3. The key innovation in it is the appearance of the Stolen Device Protection mode. It is suggested to enable it both during the initial setup of the iPhone and after updating the firmware. Many will agree and be pleased. But the mode has one feature that should be kept in mind before activation. Because otherwise…
Nikita Goryainov
@ngoryainov
Editor-in-Chief of iPhones.ru. Thank you for reading us. Have a question, suggestion or something interesting? Write to [email protected].
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