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Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

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Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#61

Post by nicce »

frankacter wrote: post #58
nicce wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is double-edged sword. Adds new attack vector to compromise the whole phone. Is the user data encrypted when the maintenance mode is on? Can thiefs access it and make phone usable?

>Is the user data encrypted when the maintenance mode is on? Yes, the primary device user data remains encrypted. The temporary user functions in a sandboxed state. >Can thiefs access it and make phone usable? The expected functionality prohibits access to the primary user data. Even if they were able to break from the sandboxed space somehow, the primary user data maintains an encrypted state.

> The expected functionality prohibits access to the primary user data. Even if they were able to break from the sandboxed space somehow, the primary user data maintains an encrypted state

That was not my point.. just thinking if that would add resell value for the phone. Currently it is zero for iPhones.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#62

Post by corobo »

rasz wrote: post #55
corobo wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait for it to do a fresh backup then nab it on the new phone would be my first try E: no wait I'd just plug it into a computer

and enter passcode how?

Fair point. I'm back to waiting for it to do a backup itself then

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#63

Post by dpkonofa »

enteeentee wrote: post #60
jdietrich wrote: post #24

Samsung phones have a feature for this specific scenario. Maintenance Mode creates a temporary user account, allowing a service technician to test all of the functionality of your device without exposing any user data. Given Apple's stated commitment to privacy and security, I'm surprised that there's no equivalent feature. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-ma...

Lots of people seem to be misunderstanding this post. Apple is not asking for the posters password, they are asking for the poster to disable a function, which can be disabled online and offered a device to do this. They were not offering the device to capture the password in order to perform maintenance. Poster is concerned about entering password on a device used by many. Poster could go home log on to iCloud on a…

I think that’s because it seems like the OP misunderstood what was being asked of them. I think you’re 100% right here (having gone through this exact process and choosing, exactly as stated, to remove Activation Lock/Find My via my personal machine rather than a store machine) but OP seems to think they were asking for his phone passcode. That doesn’t make sense to me but it looks like that’s what he’s stating - phone passcode, not iCloud login - and I think that’s causing the misunderstanding.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#64

Post by auguzanellato »

FYI: you can do that on device you used to type this post. They need you to disable Find My in order to confirm that you're the legit owner of the device. The problem is that diagnosis refuses to start on devices with Find My enabled. Their diagnostic tools work in a pre-boot environment so that they don't have access to any of your data.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#65

Post by [deleted] »

jdietrich wrote: post #24

Samsung phones have a feature for this specific scenario. Maintenance Mode creates a temporary user account, allowing a service technician to test all of the functionality of your device without exposing any user data. Given Apple's stated commitment to privacy and security, I'm surprised that there's no equivalent feature. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-ma...

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#67

Post by [deleted] »

enteeentee wrote: post #60
jdietrich wrote: post #24

Samsung phones have a feature for this specific scenario. Maintenance Mode creates a temporary user account, allowing a service technician to test all of the functionality of your device without exposing any user data. Given Apple's stated commitment to privacy and security, I'm surprised that there's no equivalent feature. https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/what-is-ma...

Lots of people seem to be misunderstanding this post. Apple is not asking for the posters password, they are asking for the poster to disable a function, which can be disabled online and offered a device to do this. They were not offering the device to capture the password in order to perform maintenance. Poster is concerned about entering password on a device used by many. Poster could go home log on to iCloud on a…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#68

Post by SmarsJerry »

I’m pretty sure this has to do with phone theft. When you get your phone stolen, the thieves disassembling your phone is China will send you hundreds of texts asking you to disable find my iPhone. I’m hoping it’s because you can’t even used the pieces for parts if that was enabled.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#69

Post by coolThingsFirst »

rezo2 wrote: post #9
coolThingsFirst wrote: post #2

You are needlessly paranoid. It's common to ask for the password and I don't think they'd touch your private files. After the screen is fixed they'd need to do QA that it works correctly. Some things you just have to trust in life, too much paranoia won't lead you to good places. Trust me, I've been there.

Would you like to give me your house key? I'll just check if there are any parasites there, while you're gone. Trust me.

Let's say your laptop's broken and you have important data in there.

How would you recover it if you don't have the expertise?

I also regular give my apartment's keys to maintence workers or landlord.

If something goes missing I'd know who took it

From one angle, I get where you're coming from. In the US people are really defensive for their homes.

Where I live if I behave a bit closed off they'll think I'm growing drugs at home or something sinister like that. So it's a great privilege if you can be super paranoid about things like that.

Re: Ask HN: Why does Apple want me to expose my iPhone password to repair my screen?

#70

Post by coolThingsFirst »

user568439 wrote: post #6
coolThingsFirst wrote: post #2

You are needlessly paranoid. It's common to ask for the password and I don't think they'd touch your private files. After the screen is fixed they'd need to do QA that it works correctly. Some things you just have to trust in life, too much paranoia won't lead you to good places. Trust me, I've been there.

I might trust Apple in this specific situation but not their workers. They can cause me a lot of trouble with an unlocked iPhone. Like temporarily supplant my identity or steal pictures

What would they do with your nudes?

Not like you wouldn't know if something went wrong. You'd literally have a cause for suing them.

Like if I was working at AppleGenius or whatever, this would probably be a routine thing.

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