iPhone Password Breached but Safe... Apple Launches 'Theft Protection Feature'

From iOS 17.3 Version Onward
Fingerprint and Face Recognition Required... Enhanced Security for Financial and Payment Information

Apple has introduced a feature that prevents personal information leakage even if an iPhone is stolen. By requiring biometric ID even if the password is leaked, it prevents third parties from arbitrarily changing the password.

[Photo by CNBC]

Apple announced on the 22nd (local time) that it will officially distribute iOS 17.3, the iPhone operating system with this new 'Stolen Device Protection' feature.

This move is analyzed as a countermeasure by Apple following a surge in iPhone loss, theft, and secondary damages in the United States last year.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), last year in major U.S. cities such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, and Minneapolis, thieves who snatched iPhones frequently learned the passwords set by the owners and changed the account passwords.

WSJ reported that some pickpockets even watched iPhone users enter their numeric passwords to learn them before stealing the iPhones.

According to the U.S. technology magazine WIRED, in London, a phone theft occurs every six minutes, and recently, 40 stolen iPhones were found in bulk on the East LA Freeway in the U.S., prompting a police investigation.

Accordingly, Apple’s new 'Stolen Device Protection' feature requires biometric authentication such as Face ID or Touch ID to change the Apple account password when an attempt is made from a location far from the user’s usual routes, and if authentication fails, it imposes a delay of up to one hour.

However, there is no delay in frequently used places such as the user’s home or workplace, and apps not protected by passwords as well as messages and emails remain vulnerable to theft.

This stolen device protection feature must be activated regularly for the security measures to work properly. Once set, the security measures are strengthened to require biometric ID not only for changing the Apple account password but also for applying for a new Apple Card, setting and deleting content, turning off Lost Mode, and using payment methods saved in Safari (Apple’s web browser).