Apple is going to make it more difficult to use a stolen iPhone, even if the thief has the passcode. The company is introducing a Stolen Device Protection feature in the upcoming iOS 17.3 update, which requires Face ID or Touch ID to perform certain actions.
The upcoming Stolen Device Protection feature is opt-in, writes, among others, The Wall Street Journal. For example, the new feature requires users to biometrically verify their identity when viewing saved passwords in iCloud Keychain. This is no longer possible with a passcode. Users in the US will therefore not be able to apply for a new Apple Card, erase the phone completely, or use the iPhone to set up a new Apple device without Face ID or Touch ID.
The same applies to adjusting an Apple ID password or security settings, such as enabling recovery keys. If users are not in a known location, such as at home or at work, they will then have to wait another hour. After that hour, the user must verify his or her identity again via Face ID or Touch ID. Users will also have to wait an hour before they can add new Face ID and Touch ID credentials to the iPhone, provided they are not in a known location.
The feature should limit thieves’ access to certain sensitive information, such as saved passwords. It should also make it easier for users to quickly completely erase their stolen iPhone via iCloud, as the thief cannot simply change the victim’s Apple ID password. With the new feature it remains possible to unlock an iPhone with a passcode. Apple Pay can also continue to be used in this way with only a passcode.
The new feature will be introduced in the future in the iOS 17.3 update, which is currently available in beta. It is not yet known when that update will officially appear. When Apple releases the feature, users will be prompted to enable it. Stolen Device Protection can also be found in the settings upon release, under Face ID & Passcode.
Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3. Image: Apple, Wall Street Journal