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Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

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Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#11

Post by marginalia_nu »

mjevans wrote: post #6
LeoPanthera wrote: post #3

This is really no different to Apple’s Activation Lock. If the previous user isn’t careful to sign out of their Apple ID (or, at a minimum, disable “Find My”), the new owner will need the previous owner’s password to reset the device. This is a good thing . Combined with remote lock, it renders stolen devices useless.

No, it's not a good thing. The Factory Reset process is defective. It SHOULD ask the user if they are selling, giving away, or otherwise disposing of the device; or otherwise just want to remove that device from their account.

This works well because pickpockets are well known for their inability to tell lies, and would always answer truthfully.

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#12

Post by ben_w »

marginalia_nu wrote: post #11
mjevans wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, it's not a good thing. The Factory Reset process is defective. It SHOULD ask the user if they are selling, giving away, or otherwise disposing of the device; or otherwise just want to remove that device from their account.

This works well because pickpockets are well known for their inability to tell lies, and would always answer truthfully.

Sarcasm accepted, but you can require the account password to proceed with the reset when the user makes that choice.

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#13

Post by Underphil »

londons_explore wrote: post #4

This is a theft prevention feature, the same as Apples 'icloud lock' It works very well to prevent theft. Phone models locked in this way are barely worth anything on markets of stolen goods. Unfortunately some devices have exploits which allow relatively easy unlocking, and those models are still stolen quite a lot.

Could you cite a source regarding the claim that "it works well to prevent theft"?

Not disputing your claim, just finding it difficult to find evidence either way.

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#14

Post by easton »

mjevans wrote: post #6
LeoPanthera wrote: post #3

This is really no different to Apple’s Activation Lock. If the previous user isn’t careful to sign out of their Apple ID (or, at a minimum, disable “Find My”), the new owner will need the previous owner’s password to reset the device. This is a good thing . Combined with remote lock, it renders stolen devices useless.

No, it's not a good thing. The Factory Reset process is defective. It SHOULD ask the user if they are selling, giving away, or otherwise disposing of the device; or otherwise just want to remove that device from their account.

It does. "Erase all content and settings" prompts the user to enter their password to disable Find My iPhone, and if you do it through iTunes, once the phone reboots into the clean OS it prompts on the computer to type the credentials in. You could refuse to type the credentials in leaving it locked, but Apple is pretty informative throughout the process. (You can also remove it from Find My iPhone on the web and it unlocks the device even if you don't have it anymore)

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#15

Post by svendahlstrand »

Underphil wrote: post #13
londons_explore wrote: post #4

This is a theft prevention feature, the same as Apples 'icloud lock' It works very well to prevent theft. Phone models locked in this way are barely worth anything on markets of stolen goods. Unfortunately some devices have exploits which allow relatively easy unlocking, and those models are still stolen quite a lot.

Could you cite a source regarding the claim that "it works well to prevent theft"? Not disputing your claim, just finding it difficult to find evidence either way.

> Global Drop In Smartphone Thefts Following Introduction Of Kill Switch[.] New Data Reveal Thefts Down 40% In London; 22 % In San Francisco; And 16% In New York City

https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2015/ag-schneiderman-london-...

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#16

Post by anilakar »

londons_explore wrote: post #4

This is a theft prevention feature, the same as Apples 'icloud lock' It works very well to prevent theft. Phone models locked in this way are barely worth anything on markets of stolen goods. Unfortunately some devices have exploits which allow relatively easy unlocking, and those models are still stolen quite a lot.

Can you report your previous employees to the police for theft of company property then?

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#17

Post by josefx »

danuker wrote: post #7
josefx wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couldn't this be done using a reset password shipped with the phone? There is no reason to involve a third party at all.

How would the phone check whether it's stolen, without a third party, and without the user knowing the password (or lock screen pattern)?

The thief wouldn't have the reset password?

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#18

Post by [deleted] »

danuker wrote: post #7
josefx wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Couldn't this be done using a reset password shipped with the phone? There is no reason to involve a third party at all.

How would the phone check whether it's stolen, without a third party, and without the user knowing the password (or lock screen pattern)?

[deleted]

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#19

Post by buro9 »

Never put a managed work account on a private device.

The inverse is also true, have strong policies that prevent private accounts on work devices.

Work have zero right to your private data, and you really really don't want to take any liability for work data.

Re: Remove Google Account After Factory Reset (2019)

#20

Post by wyattpeak »

josefx wrote: post #17
danuker wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would the phone check whether it's stolen, without a third party, and without the user knowing the password (or lock screen pattern)?

The thief wouldn't have the reset password?

After two or three years, neither would the owner.

Edit: More seriously, if they took this approach, people would regularly lose their codes, which would necessitate a backup means of obtaining it. Which would no doubt require the purchaser log into their Google account. And we're back at square one.

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