iOS 7 Bug Allows Disabling of 'Find My iPhone' Without Password

Thursday February 6, 2014 10:16 am PST by Juli Clover

A bug in the current version of iOS 7 appears to allow users to disable Find my iPhone on a device without typing in a password, which effectively hides it from being located on iCloud.com.

Deactivating Find My iPhone takes just a few simple steps and it can be easily repeated on devices running the current version of iOS (7.0.4). The exploit involves making a few simple changes to the iCloud account section of the Settings app.

Video via Bradley Williams

MacRumors has been able to successfully replicate this bug on an iPhone and an iPad running iOS 7.0.4, but could not get it to work on a device running iOS 7.1, so the flaw will likely be fixed with the upcoming update.

This is a potentially serious bug as Find My iPhone is a useful method of locating a lost device. While this exploit does disable Find My iPhone and allow for an iOS device to be erased, it does not remove Apple's Activation Lock theft deterrent system. After being erased, the device will remain locked to the original account and continue to ask for that Apple ID and password during the setup process to resume functionality.

The bypass only works on a device that does not have Touch ID or a Passcode enabled, as the exploit requires access to the Settings menu. To avoid having Find My iPhone disabled, users should update their phones with a Passcode and install iOS 7.1 when Apple releases the software.

MacRumors has contacted Apple for comment on the exploit and we will update if we receive new information.

Top Rated Comments

Blorzoga

126 months ago

Don't you folks at MacRumors realize that by posting a thread like this, you tip off thieves to a way of successfully thwarting Apple's find-my-iphone security. Maybe this should not be posted?!?!?!? Now you've given every thief who monitors this site a head start until Apple fixes. Well done MacRumors!!!!

Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Merode

You first have to unlock phone so this whole hack is useless for thieves..

Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)

KALLT

Don't you folks at MacRumors realize that by posting a thread like this, you tip off thieves to a way of successfully thwarting Apple's find-my-iphone security. Maybe this should not be posted?!?!?!?

I'd rather want to know about these issues to be aware of security risks, especially when there is an effective solution to this bug:

The bypass only works on a device that does not have Touch ID or a Passcode enabled, as the exploit requires access to the Settings menu.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bushido

good thing everyone has passcode enabled. right, RIGHT???

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

2457282

This is there to remind people to set up a passcode to unlock the iPhone to begin with. remember, the can't exploit this if the can't get past the lock screen.

Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)

dustinsc

This is why you use a pass code folks. This is also why Touch ID is awesome, since it addresses convenience, one of the main reasons people don't use pass codes.

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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