U.S. carriers block Samsung's kill switch alternative to Apple's iOS 7 Activation Lock

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  • Reply 61 of 75
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by aylk View Post

     

     

    That's the software that the carriers are blocking.


    Are the carriers blocking installation of the app altogether (like they did with pre-4.4 google wallet) or just declining to preload it?

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  • Reply 62 of 75
    Article says ..."The service is free, but requires setting up an iCloud account and locking the device with a passcode" but Apple's info pages don't mention the passcode thing. They do say that activating "Lost mode" for a phone allows you to set a passcode that's needed to unlock it, but that's a different thing.

    Does anyone know whether a regular passcode (or TouchID on iPhone 5s) is required to be turned on for Activation Lock to be effective?
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  • Reply 63 of 75
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post





    If your worry is savvy hackers they can bypass Activation Lock too, even lock the original owner out of their own account. But even so Activation Lock is certainly a significant step up in theft deterrence from what Android currently offers.

     

    Source? I have not heard of anyone bypassing Activation Lock. And it doesn't take a "savvy hacker" to resell an Android device that's been "erased". Any 12 year old could do it.

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  • Reply 64 of 75
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,736member
    Source? I have not heard of anyone bypassing Activation Lock.

    [VIDEO]

    At the end the videographer also suggests what seems like some relatively easy fixes Apple could use. The video isn't used as an Apple-bash IMHO.
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  • Reply 65 of 75
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by plovell View Post



    Article says ..."The service is free, but requires setting up an iCloud account and locking the device with a passcode" but Apple's info pages don't mention the passcode thing. They do say that activating "Lost mode" for a phone allows you to set a passcode that's needed to unlock it, but that's a different thing.



    Does anyone know whether a regular passcode (or TouchID on iPhone 5s) is required to be turned on for Activation Lock to be effective?

     

    Find My iPhone is the same as Activation Lock. If it's turned on, then Activation Lock is on. If it's turned off, then Activation Lock is off (meaning someone who has your iPhone could do a factory reset and then activate it/sell it).

     

    In order to turn Find My iPhone off, you need to enter in your iCloud account password (not the phone unlock PIN). This is the best way to ensure a used iPhone you're about to buy hasn't been stolen. If the user knows the account password and can turn off Find My iPhone in front of you, then you're good to go.

     

    In fact, this is just what I did the other day when selling a used iPhone 5 (after getting my 5S). I turned off Find My iPhone for the potential buyer, reset the phone and let him activate it. This was, the buyer wasn't even aware of this feature and I had to explain if he bought an iPhone with Find My iPhone turned on, then he wouldn't be able to activate or use the phone. He was surprised and happy to hear about this.

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  • Reply 66 of 75
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Gatorguy View Post







    At the end the videographer also suggests what seems like some relatively easy fixes Apple could use. The video isn't used as an Apple-bash IMHO.

     

    Again you've just proved how much of an idiot you really are and a waste of time, but I will respond for the benefit of others (not to you, since you're worthless).

     

    This requires so many things to be wrong it's not even funny.

     

    - First they need to get a print. As has been proven already, these guys who "claim" to have unlocked an iPhone using the "fake fingerprint" are all scammers. There are numerous flaws in their techniques. They need a pristine print (which will never be lifted from an iPhone that gets used by a normal person). Second, they never show continuity from the print on the phone to the software. They could easily have previously saved a perfect print they made themselves in advance under a different file name on their computer and select that one to make the fake instead of using the actual one they "supposedly" lifted from the phone itself. But this is a whole other topic, and anyone who wants to debate this just speak up and I'll expose the totality of this scam.

    - Second they need to find a person that has actually used the e-mail on their device for password recovery. That's quite the assumption to make.

    - Thirdly you have to assume that you will be able to get the recovery e-mail and copy the link BEFORE the iPhone gets erased when connected.

     

    So you have two ASSUMPTIONS and a very difficult to replicate fingerprint hack to sell a used iPhone.

     

     

    Meanwhile, on Android I can plug my phone into my USB port, run a piece of software (of which there are countless available) and in minutes the phone is ready for use. No hacks required, no complicated fingerprint hacks and NO ASSUMPTIONS about things like recovery e-mails.

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  • Reply 67 of 75
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,736member

    As has been proven already, these guys who "claim" to have unlocked an iPhone using the "fake fingerprint" are all scammers.
    ...they never show continuity from the print on the phone to the software. They could easily have previously saved a perfect print they made themselves in advance under a different file name on their computer and select that one to make the fake instead of using the actual one they "supposedly" lifted from the phone itself. But this is a whole other topic, and anyone who wants to debate this just speak up and I'll expose the totality of this scam.

    Here ya go, expose it for the fake it is.


    As is often the case your personal attacks start as soon as you find things may not be exactly as you thought they were. If all else fails shoot the messenger right?
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  • Reply 68 of 75

    yet another click bait non-story from ai, it's certainly brought out the kiddie trolls

     

    if carrier's wanted, they could block stolen phones via the imei and agreeing a consolidated ceir blacklist, but it seems most only do it when compelled by local law, which simply drives international trade in stolen devices to countries that ignore this basic measure

     

    on some devices it may be possible to change the imei, but that's beyond the average scum that pilfer these things

     

    the real story is not about apple, samsung, or any other device manufacturer, it's about why so many carriers seem unwilling to apply a basic, but highly effective anti-crime measure

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  • Reply 69 of 75
    Originally Posted by umumum View Post

    the real story is not about apple, samsung, or any other device manufacturer, it's about why so many carriers seem unwilling to apply a basic, but highly effective anti-crime measure


     

    Because it means fewer phones on their network, plain and simple. They don’t give the first flipping burger to the well-being of their users. They just care about the number thereof.

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  • Reply 70 of 75

    To me, this speaks volumes about a bigger issue at hand.

     

    This is distressing, in that carriers are having too much power in dictating what gets on your phone, often for their own benefits and to the detriments of the end user. Something is wrong when Android updates are taking 9 months to reach the end user, during which Google proceeds to release another 2 Android updates. When Apple releases a small 30mb update, I am wirelessly downloading and installing it while walking to work, on the very same day. None of this rooting crap.

     

    Sure, people can say how they don't really care about having activation lock on their Android phones. What about next time, when the Telcos block another feature which you do want? People tend to criticise Apple for not doing this or that, yet often fail to give recognition where it's due for the things that Apple does do well. 

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  • Reply 71 of 75
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member

    Well then read the link or do some independent research of your own as to why Verizon abandoned its Android strategy after it failed to attract the kind of premium data subscribers that iPhone was bringing to AT&T. Your inability to understand or remember a subject does not make it controversial. 

    True but it wasn't because they were losing customers in droves. At no point in time did VZW fail to add close to a million subscribers in a quarter.
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  • Reply 72 of 75
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,736member
    Google is powerless to demand concessions from carriers...

    Apparently Google may have a little more clout with carriers than you give them credit for. Just three weeks after the latest Android version was announced it's already being rolled out to MotoX users at Verizon (!) and T-Mobile.
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  • Reply 73 of 75
    your better off getting renters insurance for your android then rely on lojack's reward
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  • Reply 74 of 75

    in order for lojack to pay out the $1000, you have to report it stolen, and it must phone home

    its location to lojack at least once in a 90 day period. if your phone gets stolen, and it is wiped, or has its sim removed, or otherwise can't phone home to lojack, you do not get your $1000



    the $1000 reward for lojack is for laptops only, and every year you subscribe to lojack it goes down.



    within the first year $1000

    second year $800

    third year $600

    forth year $400

    fifth year $200

    the android smart phone plan, also goes down



    within the first year $600

    second year $360

    third year $ 240

    forth year $ 180

    fifth year $ $90



    i meant to quote and reply but i botched it.

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