Apple has a support page explaining what to do if your iPhone is stolen, and we’ve updated this page with more detailed advice.
This includes a new section warning you of possible fraud and a section advising you not to enter contact details that appear on a stolen device.
This support page is comprehensive, covering everything from putting your device in Lost Mode to remotely erasing it, removing it from your list of trusted devices, and filing a theft and loss claim with AppleCare+.
Apple’s previous advice included displaying contact information on your device’s lock screen so that anyone who finds your device can easily contact you to arrange a reunion. But the company is now specifically warning people not to do so if they know their phone has been stolen rather than misplaced.
If your device is stolen, don’t include your contact information. You may have the option to enter a phone number or a message about how to contact us, which is helpful if you lose your device and want to make it easier for anyone who finds it to get it back. If your device is stolen, thieves can use your contact information in social engineering schemes.
Social engineering attacks can include thieves pretending to be calling from Apple or their mobile carrier and asking for information that can be used to reactivate the device.
Apple also warns against removing devices from Find My.
Do not remove the device from Find My. Removing a device from the Find My list removes the activation lock, making it easier for thieves to erase and resell the device.
Finally, the company notes that the Stolen Device Protection protection only works for a limited time.
Mark it as lost even if it has stolen device protection. The added protection of Stolen Device Protection only lasts for a limited period of time. The best way to protect your iPhone and Apple account is to immediately mark your stolen device as lost.
This feature means that the device requires biometric authentication for particularly sensitive operations, such as accessing saved passwords or credit cards. To change your Apple account password when your phone is in an unfamiliar location, you’ll have to wait an hour in addition to using Face ID or Touch ID. This action is intended to give you time to enable Lost Mode and to ensure that your Apple account cannot be compromised even if a thief sees you enter your passcode.
One tactic thieves use is to offer to use their phone to take a photo of you when you’re out with friends, lock the device using a long press on the side button and the volume down button, disable Face ID, and then return it. This will give you the opportunity to watch them enter their passcode when viewing a photo. They then look for the next opportunity to steal the phone.
Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash
