What should I do if scammers have locked my tablet using Find My iPad? How to Lock a Stolen iPhone What is Lost Mode

Recently, quite a few users have started contacting me with the same problem - hacking Apple ID account and blocking iPhone for the purpose of extortion.

The problem is real and, if it occurs, turns your iPhone into a brick. Such cases arise both because of the stupidity of the iPhone owners themselves, and without their participation, which in itself is very disappointing.

Why is this happening and what to do in this situation I will tell right now! Forewarned is forearmed!

Fraudsters block iPhone using someone else's Apple ID -
Someone else's Apple ID in my iPhone settings! -
If you want to reset (change) your Apple ID password -
How to untie an iPhone from the former owner's Apple ID -
How to change Apple ID on iPhone correctly -
Locked iPhone? How to bypass iCloud Activation Lock? -

How scammers work

Imagine that on VKontakte you receive a message from one of your friends of this kind: “ Max, hi! Lost my iPhone. Your help is urgently needed! Enter my Apple ID details (included) into your iPhone in Settings > iCloud and look on the map in Find my iPhone where it is».

Something like this ... And you know, many are led to this scam and really enter into Settings > iCloud someone else's account! STOP! Do not do this!

The sent message can change its “appearance”, but the essence remains the same - scammers, under any pretext, ask you to enter someone else's Apple ID on your phone.

Here are a couple of comments I received the other day:

On behalf of a friend, they wrote VK to allegedly help, they had to log out of their icloud and log in through another. I did just that, after they told me to go to find an iPhone and my phone turned off. I turned it on and he started asking me to keep my apple id and password. But I didn't have it. It turned out to be scammers who so extort money for unlocking! In those support will be able to unlock? IPhone 6, I have receipts, I took it in the store

I have such a problem: they wrote to me on the social network VKontakte on behalf of a friend who allegedly lost her phone and asks to go to her iCloud through my iPhone. I did it because I trusted this person. After that, my phone turned off and it turned out that the hacker hacked into my friend's VKontakte account and my iCloud. As a result, my phone is locked and I do not know the cracker's password, and mine is issued as incorrect. Please help please. Where can I apply?

Would you believe this report, or would you double-check first? Write in the comments!

What happens after that? This bad person, being on the site icloud.com, sees that your iPhone has appeared in his devices.

After that the bastard activates Lost Mode and your phone goes into a locked state, in which it will stay until you enter the unlock code (set by an attacker).

At the same time, a message will usually pop up on your iPhone screen prompting you to contact the corresponding e-mail address (similar to something close to Apple, for example, here is one - [email protected]).

When you try to send an unlock request, your e-mail will automatically receive a response with the following content:

Your device is locked. To receive an unlock code for your device, transfer 1500 rubles to QIWI Wallet: +7-965-863-5616
After payment, attach a receipt (screenshot) and we will send you a password for your device.

12 hours were allotted for payment. Otherwise, your device will be locked without password recovery.

Pay for "doubtful services" of scammers I do not advise. To begin with, it is better to try to follow the steps described below.

By the way! You can not try to reflash, reset the settings, and even. None of these methods will help you bypass iCloud Activation Lock.

Hack Apple ID via e-mail

There is another type of Apple ID account hijacking. As you probably remember, an Apple ID is nothing more than an e-mail address. So if the attackers pick up the password and take over your e-mail box, they can easily get to your Apple account.

To do this, they will simply reset your Apple ID password (as written in this instruction), and then, just like in the paragraph above, they will lock your iPhone.

Did you get the moral? ... Normal passwords must be set! Everywhere!

And yet, we have not yet solved the problem with hacked Apple ID and iPhone lock. About what to do, once in such a situation, I will tell you right now.

What to do when your Apple ID is hacked

Starting with iOS 7, Apple introduced a new feature to the iPhone security system. iCloud Activation Lock. In order to protect the personal data of users in the event of a stolen device, it became possible to remotely block devices or delete all data on them.

Unfortunately, this iOS feature quite often turns against ordinary users. Here is a step-by-step list of actions that I would take in the event of a similar situation.

STEP 1 - Try to regain control of your Apple ID. This STEP can help you ONLY when, IF you yourself NOT INTRODUCED in iCloud Settings FOREIGN APPLE ID DATA. If you did, go to STEP 2.

In order to regain control of your Apple ID, you need to reset your password. You can do this on the official website at: https://iforgot.apple.com. There is something about it on my site.

If you used a backup email when you signed up for your Apple ID, then a password reset email will be sent to him. After recovering your Apple ID password, you can go to icloud.com and turn off Lost Mode in Find My iPhone.

If you managed to complete the steps described above, then you can be congratulated. After you turn off Lost Mode, your phone most likely still requires a numeric passcode to unlock it.

At the same time, you probably cannot connect to Wi-Fi either. In this situation, there is only one way out - Restore iPhone in iTunes through DFU mode ().

STEP 2 - If the actions in the previous step did not lead to anything, then you cannot do it on your own. You will have to ask for help in the OFFICIAL APPLE SUPPORT SERVICE.

To do this, just make one phone call to the number 495 580-95-57 (Russia). If you are not in Russia, but still in the CIS, then here I described in detail how you can inexpensively call the Russian support service.

ATTENTION!!! In order for an Apple support engineer to deign to assist you, you will be required to “proof” that the phone is really yours. It will not be possible to chat him over the phone (although there was one case) ...

The real proof for him is the sales receipt from the store, which you kept and did not throw away all this time. You didn't throw it away, did you? So? … If suddenly the check is lost or it was not there initially, go to STEP 3.

In any case, contact the support service and explain the situation to them. I heard about one friend of a friend who called the number indicated five times and “begged with tears” to be dictated in a whisper to the changed password from her Apple ID account. It certainly sounds fabulous, if not fantastic, but such is the fable. I didn't invent it.

STEP 3 - You can spit in my face or kick me hard, but what I'm about to say IS THE TRUTH. Only the support service can really help you in this situation, but without a sales receipt, this option becomes difficult. A locked iPhone can remain locked forever.

How I called and communicated with Apple Russia technical support -

Of course, you can follow the scammers' lead and transfer 1,500 rubles in an unknown direction. But where is the guarantee that they will help you? In fact, they have already “shod” you once.

Real stories of real people

Anna
Hello, we got into a situation with scammers (they blocked the iphone and demanded 1500 rubles) and your post helped a lot! The first thing they did was to recover the password in Icloud by answering security questions and registering a backup email address. Secondly, we called the support phone in Russia, but the phone number is +7 495 580 95 57, very polite girls there explained to us step by step what and how to do and .... voila… the phone is unlocked and working! so that with us Thank God the scammers broke off.

Mark
They also hacked, blocked the phone through Finded my phone. I thought everything, but contacted the support service via chat (I am from Ukraine myself), after 20-30 minutes they answered. The first thing was to restore the mail, remove the filters that the scammers installed in the mail. Then I restored iCloud, deleted the phone from iCloud, checked whether activation was disabled (when the phone was turned off). Then I went into DFU mode, connected to the latest iTunes, downloaded the firmware, installed it as a new phone (with DFU mode enabled) and voila, the phone is like new. True, I had a backup copy for the benefit, so I recovered from it without problems. And the support team advised using apple id with the .com domain

Alexander
Yesterday I ran into this situation. The attacker somehow recognized the Apple ID and gained access to the account (he was not informed to anyone), and then, as described, blocking and an email message on the screen. The money was not paid, the problem was solved as follows.
1. Restored access to email (in our case, mail.ru). Mail is tied to a phone number, it was possible to restore it without problems. Changed the password.
2. Through email, we regained control over the Apple ID, changed the password, turned off the lost phone mode.
3. Reset via iTunes.

That's how stories are. I do not pretend to be an "expert" or some kind of "guru", so I can be wrong in any matter.

If your Apple ID was also hacked on your phone and you know how to solve this problem, write in the comments below. Well, if the article turned out to be useful, like me ... Thank you!

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note

If you have been the victim of a brand new iPhone being stolen from you, then as soon as you notice this, you need to act immediately. You need to visit the iCloud website and lock the stolen iPhone. Using the Apple ID that you have available, you need to log in to iCloud.com.

Your next action is to go to the "Find iPhone" branch. By clicking on the drop-down menu, the iPhone or iPad is selected (depending on what was stolen from you). On the map that appears, the location of the enabled device should be displayed as a green dot. This means that you are in luck - the iPhone is turned on and registered on the Internet. If the dot is red, then he has been offline for at least a day.

After that, a window such as Lost Mode appears, and you need to enter a password in it. If a password has not been set before, the system automatically sets it on the device.

When there is important or just personal information on the stolen gadget, it can be deleted from it. There is a special menu for this. But there is no need to rush to press it, because immediately after deleting the information, the device cannot be tracked on the map. It's up to you here.

What you need to do to be able to block a stolen iPhone

Before you go out with your iPhone for the first time, you need to set everything up correctly. You need to start by activating an option such as Find My iPhone located along the path: settings - iOS - iCloud. There is also such a menu item as "Last location". You need to make sure it is active. By activating this item, you can track the geolocation of the device in the off state.

You can not ID and do not store it near the phone. If you suddenly forgot it, you need to immediately visit the Apple website, answer the questions posed and change this password.

It's great if you can take advantage of the options to block using Touch ID. This will allow you to remove the lock using fingerprinting, which means using a fingerprint. Activating the password can be done simply: Settings, Password, Password protection, switching to the Enable password mode. It is possible to activate the process of deleting information after 10 incorrect password entries.

Turn on Lost iPhone Mode

There are 2 ways to activate Lost Mode:

in iCloud from any computer, tablet or smartphone with an Internet connection;
from another iOS device.

Lost Mode can be enabled in the web or iOS app, and is only available for devices that are directly running iOS 5.0 or higher. But for iPhone firmware of older versions, this function is not available.

From any computer or tablet, or even a smartphone in a web browser, you need to go to the icloud.com website and go to the Find My iPhone application, log in with the Apple ID specified in the device settings "Settings -> iCloud -> Account".

Next, in the My devices menu (located at the top in the center), select the model of the device. In the device information window, click on "Lost Mode". The 4-digit lock password must then be entered twice.

After that, you enter the phone number that you can call to return the phone and click "Next". The number will be displayed on the screen of the password-locked device. If you've lost or stolen an iPhone that you can use to make calls, you can call the phone number you've specified from its lock screen.

the phone will be locked with a password;
your message will be displayed on the lock screen;
the specified phone number will be displayed on the lock screen, where you can call even from a locked iPhone;
in the window with the image of this device, you can see the inscription "Lost Mode";
the email that was used when registering the Apple ID will receive a message that the device has turned on lost mode;
Turn on Activation Lock on iPhone
When you connect your iPhone to iTunes, you'll see a warning that Lost Mode has been enabled on your device and actions with it have been blocked.

If your iPhone isn't connected to the internet when you activate Lost Mode, iCloud will prompt you to activate Lost Mode. When the iPhone is connected to the Internet, the request will be executed immediately.

Lost mode is enabled not only through iCloud, it can also be done from another device, the only requirement is that there must be an internet connection.

In order to block a stolen device, you need: on your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you need to launch the Find My iPhone application and log in with your Apple ID, password. You need to select the device you want to block and click on "Actions". Next, click on "Lost Mode" and turn it on.

Enter the password, phone number, message text and click on "Finish". A padlock will appear in the All Devices menu. The consequences for the device will be the same as when the mode was activated from iCloud.

Turn off Lost Mode

Turning off Lost Mode is much easier than turning it on, it can be done in 3 ways:

from the locked device itself;
from iCloud in a web browser;
from the Find My iPhone menu in iOS.

The easiest and fastest way to turn off the mode is to turn off from a locked device. All you need to do is enter the password correctly. After that, the device is unlocked and Lost Mode is deactivated.

To turn off Lost Mode via iCloud, you need to do almost all the steps that are identical to the process of turning on this mode. In the "My Devices" menu, select the device on which Lost Mode is activated and click on "Lost Mode". Next, you need to click on "Exit Lost Mode", confirm the request.

As a result, the lost mode will be disabled, and the message and phone number will disappear from the lock screen, but the password will not be reset, you need to enter the password to unlock the device. After that, this password will be set in the form of a device lock code. You can turn off Lost Mode from the Find My iPhone app on another iOS gadget. And the procedure is similar.

The Lost Mode is a wonderful “feature”, but it can become an obstacle for both intruders and legitimate owners. It turns out that it is impossible to change the lock password remotely, i.e. if a lock password was specified in the device settings and accidentally forgotten, then emergency mode can be turned off, but it becomes impossible to get beyond the lock screen.

In this situation, iPhone recovery from Recovery Mode or DFU mode comes to the rescue.. It is possible to enter the iPhone into any of these modes from any state, iTunes can recognize the device in recovery mode and offer to restore it. After the restoration process, set up your iPhone as new. But this is if you are the rightful owner and you have an Apple ID account from which Lost Mode was enabled.

What to do if your iPhone or iPad is stolen or lost? The first and main action is the remote blocking of the gadget, which will not only prevent the use of the device by third parties, but also contribute to the return of the loss. How to lock your iPhone or iPad in case of loss or theft, as well as the settings without which remote locking is impossible, are described in detail in this guide.

Let's first consider the following scenario: Your iPhone or iPad hasn't been stolen/lost yet (hopefully it will remain so), but you're worried it could be. It must be understood that Apple's security systems that allow you to detect or remotely block a mobile device only work if they are active. It turns out that if the “Find iPhone” function on your smartphone or tablet is not activated, then finding the device will be extremely problematic.

Therefore, without waiting for any emergency with your iPhone or iPad, we do the following.

How to turn on Find My iPhone

Step 1. Go to the menu " Settings» → iCloud.

Note: This assumes you're signed in with your Apple ID. If this is not the case, then you must first log in. If you don't have an Apple ID account, you can learn how to create one.

Step 2. Select the section " Find iPhone» (« Find iPad» for tablets).

Step 3. Activate the switch " Find iPhone».

Only after these simple manipulations will you have a real opportunity to track or block the device if it is lost. You can read more about the Find My iPhone feature.

Now let's get back to those who fell victim to intruders or lost their iPhone or iPad. If Find My iPhone or Find My iPad has been enabled, locking your device remotely is fairly easy.

How to Remotely Lock a Stolen or Lost iPhone or iPad

Step 1. Go to the site iCloud.com and log in with your Apple ID account.

Step 2: Launch the web app Find iPhone", Press on " All devices” and select the device you want to lock remotely.

Step 3. In the device window, click " Lost Mode».

Step 4. Enter a six-digit passcode that will lock the device.

Step 5. Enter the message that will appear on the screen of the locked device.

Step 6. Specify the contact phone number, which will also be displayed on the screen of the locked device and click " Further».

Step 7. An inscription in the upper left corner of the device window will signal the successful transfer of the iPhone or iPad to Lost Mode.

The device itself, after being put into lost mode, will instantly be blocked. The display will show the message you specified and the phone number.

When you try to unlock your iPhone or iPad, you will be prompted to enter a six-digit passcode.

Until the correct passcode is entered, the iPhone or iPad will continue to be locked. Remove the lock by flashing, even through

It's no secret that Apple mobile devices are quite popular with thieves. Apple has put in place a number of protective measures to make life as difficult as possible for attackers and to return the device to its rightful owner as soon as possible. First of all, it's a function. But today we will not talk about her, but about the Lost Mode, which should be activated in case of loss or theft of an apple device.

Lost Mode is available on all mobile devices running iOS 5.0 or later with Find My iPhone enabled. This mode is one of the emergency modes of the device and is necessary to block and further search for an iPhone or iPad. If the lost mode is activated, then it is impossible to unlock the device without a special code, as well as manipulate it through iTunes.

This mode is activated from another Apple mobile device or from a computer via iCloud. In this mode, the device is not flashed via iTunes using the usual methods. It is possible to call a locked smartphone, but you can only make calls from it to one trusted number, and incorrect attempts to enter a password will lead to a temporary blocking of a smartphone or tablet.

Activate Lost Mode via iCloud

1. On a computer with Internet access, go to the site.
2. Log in with your Apple ID account.

3. Launch the web version of Find My iPhone.
4. Select a missing or stolen iPhone from the All Devices list.

5. Click the Lost Mode button.
6. If you have not set a lock password on your device, please do so now.

7. Enter a trusted phone number. This number can be called from a blocked device.
8. Type the text message to be sent to the missing iPhone. You can offer a reward to the finder.

As a result of these actions, the smartphone or tablet will be put into emergency mode. His lock screen will display the message you typed and a trusted number. It will be impossible to unlock the device without knowing the password.

Turn on Lost Mode from another Apple mobile device

1. On a mobile device running iOS 5.0 or later, launch the Find My iPhone app.
2. Log in using your Apple ID.

3. Select the missing machine.
4. Tap on the Actions button.

5. Select Lost Mode and activate it.
6. Set a password, enter your phone number, and type your messages just like you would with iCloud.
7. Click Finish.

Turn off Lost Mode

If your device was found and returned, now it becomes necessary to disable this emergency mode. You can do this through iCloud or another iOS mobile device. You can also disable Lost Mode on a locked device.

In the latter case, to remove the mode, you will need to enter the correct lock password. It is possible to pick a password manually, but continuous guessing will take too much time, given the temporary blocking of input when the password is entered incorrectly. Therefore, selection at random is inappropriate. And the owner can remove the mode by entering the correct lock password.

Turn off Lost Mode in iCloud

1. On a computer, go to the site.
2. Log in with your Apple ID and launch the Find My iPhone app.
3. Select the locked machine from the device list.

4. Click the Lost Mode button.
5. Select Exit Lost Mode.
6. Confirm your decision.

The emergency mode will be disabled, but there is a small nuance. To unlock the smartphone, you will need to enter the set password. Also, this password will be automatically assigned as the iPhone lock code. You can change it in the system settings.

The procedure for disabling Lost Mode through another Apple mobile device is exactly the same as described above. Be extremely vigilant, the lock password is vital to keeping your iPhone safe. Therefore, this password must not be forgotten. If the password is lost, the device will need to be flashed with its preliminary entry into DFU or Recovery Mode. After flashing, to return the iPhone to normal, you will need to enter the Apple ID and password from which Lost Mode was turned on.

Greetings! Apple mobile devices have a great feature that has already helped (and continues to help) many users to find their forgotten (stolen) iPhones or iPads. Many have heard about it - it's "find an iPhone." But, there is also an important component of this option - the lost mode. Not many people have heard of him now. Why? The thing is that they usually start using it when the device has already been lost or stolen.

I sincerely hope that it was not a similar misfortune (loss or theft) that brought you to this page, but just idle curiosity. I will try to fully satisfy him and tell you about the lost mode in the iPhone as detailed as possible, let's go!

What is Lost Mode in iPhone?

As I said, this is one of the components of the "find my iPhone" function. As a result, one cannot be used without the other. This mode allows you to perform two manipulations with your device at a distance:

If your iPhone or iPad didn't have a screen lock passcode, set one.
Display any message on the screen.

The default entry that appears when Lost Mode is turned on is: “This iPhone has been lost. Please, call me". Plus, the phone number you provide.

Naturally, you are free to change it and write anything you like, up to the most serious curses.

How does Lost Mode work?

After activating the lost mode (how to do it is written below), the device screen is locked with a password (which was set earlier or the one that you specified yourself when you turned on this mode) and an inscription with the text you wrote is displayed on the screen. Now no one will be able to use the device and access it without knowing the password.

If someone wants to remove it, for example (even with), then of course he will succeed and the password that is set to lock the screen will disappear. However, later, when a special window appears, in which it will be written that this device is in lost mode and you need to enter your Apple ID account information to unlock it.

It is noteworthy that such devices are almost impossible to unlock in any way, even through Apple technical support. Checks, boxes and other evidence that the gadget was bought by you and belongs to you will no longer help here. Employees of the company will repeat only one thing - remember your Apple ID and password.

The most important thing to remember. If the iPhone or iPad is in the Lost Mode state and the credentials are not known, then with such devices you can do the following:

Sell for parts.
Just put it on the shelf.

At the moment, getting them to work is practically (99%) impossible.

How to turn on Lost Mode on iPhone?

There are two main ways to activate Lost Mode:

Using the iCloud service web page.
Through a special application available for free download in the App Store - "find iPhone".

Since it is much easier to get access to the Internet than another apple device with a special application installed, we will consider turning on lost mode through the iCloud online service.

P.S. In any case, no matter what actions you would like to take with the loss mode - activate or remove, the chances of a successful outcome increase with each "like" to this article. Try it! Do you have any questions? I'm waiting in the comments!