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Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#31

Post by probablyfiction »

thisishugo wrote: post #9

There's absolutely nothing stopping them from using the iPad with a fresh OS installation, so I don't think useless is actually an accurate description. (Indeed, the BBC title is less linkbaity than this one and acknowledges the subjectivity of that description.) Without a provision in the will to permit Apple to unlock the device, I can see why it would be hesitant to do so. Certainly, if I bequeathed my phone, comp…

This is less about the device and more about the content. Yes, they could wipe the device and start over without issue, but they would lose access to the mother's purchased content in iTunes. Some people have the income to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on content for their Apple device. In that case it would be a substantial loss to lose access.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#32

Post by e28eta »

Maybe too snarky, but they could have simply called Apple support and gotten them to reset the password. If a hacker can impersonate a person, hopefully this guy would know enough about his mom to do so too.

I'm hoping they already tried the security question route and were unsuccessful.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#34

Post by lordCarbonFiber »

probablyfiction wrote: post #31
thisishugo wrote: post #9

There's absolutely nothing stopping them from using the iPad with a fresh OS installation, so I don't think useless is actually an accurate description. (Indeed, the BBC title is less linkbaity than this one and acknowledges the subjectivity of that description.) Without a provision in the will to permit Apple to unlock the device, I can see why it would be hesitant to do so. Certainly, if I bequeathed my phone, comp…

This is less about the device and more about the content. Yes, they could wipe the device and start over without issue, but they would lose access to the mother's purchased content in iTunes. Some people have the income to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on content for their Apple device. In that case it would be a substantial loss to lose access.

So the true issue is less to do with the restrictions on the account and more on the absolutely absurd DRM placed on the content. I can leave my collection of CDs to whomever I would like (along with the digital library I keep on my hard drive). Apple has done a huge disservice in convincing people that vendor specific draconian DRM was an acceptable thing.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#35

Post by Silhouette »

bananas wrote: post #30
Silhouette wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People need to make separate arrangements like password handover etc and sort their affairs out properly. And how will that help if someone dies suddenly? I'm guessing you've never dealt with, or watched a friend or family member deal with, probate in that situation. It typically means months of stressful and often heart-wrenching work that has to be done on top of everything else in your life. There are rules and pr…

> And how will that help if someone dies suddenly? I've sorted my affairs out. I have a keypassX database and master passwords listed my will. I take it you read the rest of my last post -- I have dealt with this. Most people amble through life and never ask the question "what if?". If they do ask it, they light another cigarette rather than put mitigation in place. That is naivety and people need to snap out of it,…

As for Apple, they have no obligation to do anything.

I don't know whether that's true legally here, but if it is, I don't think it should be.

If they provided devices with a factory reset that let someone unlock them, even if it meant locking out any older data, then maybe.

If they sold them with prominent warnings about how they could be rendered permanently useless in this sort of situation, maybe.

But they don't do those things. They deliberately lock the device to an authentication mechanism over which they have exclusive control under these conditions. If you're going to do that, and you're not going to warn people about it so they can make an informed decision about whether they want to buy a product with that limitation in the first place, then I think you do bear some responsibility for ensuring that the recovery mechanism operates reasonably.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#37

Post by pseudometa »

josteink wrote: post #20

Madness. Who owns this device really? The physical owner or Apple? Cases like this shows why tablets, like any other computers, should be formatable and reinstallable. Android at least has a factory reset option in the recovery menus for cases like this.

Not really madness... Theft prevention has been a mandate. I would love to see your foolproof proposal for preventing unauthorized users access while allowing authorized people access.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#38

Post by ben1040 »

lordCarbonFiber wrote: post #34
probablyfiction wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is less about the device and more about the content. Yes, they could wipe the device and start over without issue, but they would lose access to the mother's purchased content in iTunes. Some people have the income to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on content for their Apple device. In that case it would be a substantial loss to lose access.

So the true issue is less to do with the restrictions on the account and more on the absolutely absurd DRM placed on the content. I can leave my collection of CDs to whomever I would like (along with the digital library I keep on my hard drive). Apple has done a huge disservice in convincing people that vendor specific draconian DRM was an acceptable thing.

The issue is the new iOS 7 Activation Lock, not any content on the account. Unless "Find my " is turned off before wiping, the device's serial number is tied to the Apple ID that was previously signed into the device. Even after a complete wipe and reinstall of the OS image, you still cannot use the device without that account's password. The setup process will ask you for that login info and will go no further unless you have it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5818

The intent with this is that if you lost your device or had it stolen from you, even if you remotely wiped it, it would be worthless to anyone who may have found it.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#39

Post by trackerbri »

bananas wrote: post #30
Silhouette wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People need to make separate arrangements like password handover etc and sort their affairs out properly. And how will that help if someone dies suddenly? I'm guessing you've never dealt with, or watched a friend or family member deal with, probate in that situation. It typically means months of stressful and often heart-wrenching work that has to be done on top of everything else in your life. There are rules and pr…

> And how will that help if someone dies suddenly? I've sorted my affairs out. I have a keypassX database and master passwords listed my will. I take it you read the rest of my last post -- I have dealt with this. Most people amble through life and never ask the question "what if?". If they do ask it, they light another cigarette rather than put mitigation in place. That is naivety and people need to snap out of it,…

Yep, I've made similar arrangements. After helping friends after the death of family members it became obvious that I needed to put something in place.

Re: Apple security rules leave inherited iPad useless

#40

Post by bunderbunder »

josteink wrote: post #20

Madness. Who owns this device really? The physical owner or Apple? Cases like this shows why tablets, like any other computers, should be formatable and reinstallable. Android at least has a factory reset option in the recovery menus for cases like this.

Previously Apple was getting static for their devices being too easy a target for thieves.
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