Stay tuned: learn how to prevent thieves from blocking your iPhone in criminal action

A complex but worrying method of take over control over the iPhone of a user and block it permanently of the device appears to be on the rise.

Thieves of iPhone are using a security configuration, called recovery keywhich makes it nearly impossible for owners to access their photos, messages, data and more, according to a report from Wall Street Journal. Some victims told the publication that their bank accounts were emptied after their financial apps were invaded.

However, it is important to note that this type of takeover is difficult to execute. It requires a criminal to observe an iPhone user entering the device’s passcode — looking over their shoulder at a bar or sporting event, for example — or forcing the device owner to share their passcode. All this before they steal the device.

From there, a thief can use the access code to change the Apple ID device, disable the “Find my iPhone” so that your location cannot be tracked, and then reset the recovery keya complex 28-digit code used to protect its owners from online hackers.

A Apple requires this key to reset the password or regain access to a Apple ID in an attempt to strengthen user security. However, if a thief changes it, the original owner will not have the new code and will be locked out of the account.

“We sympathize with those who have had this experience and take all attacks against our users very seriously, no matter how rare,” said a spokesperson for Apple in a communication to CNN. “We work tirelessly every day to protect our users’ accounts and data, and we are always investigating additional protections against emerging threats like this.”

On its website, the Apple warns that “you are responsible for maintaining access to your trusted devices and your recovery key. If you lose both items, you may be permanently locked out of your account.”

Jeff Pollardvice president and principal analyst at Forrester Researchsaid the company should offer more customer support options and “ways for users to Apple authenticate so they can reset these settings.”

For now, there are just a few steps users can take to try to protect themselves from this happening to them:

1. Protect the access code:
   • The first step is to secure the access code.
   • A spokesperson for Apple I told CNN that people can use the Face ID or Touch ID when unlocking their phones in public to avoid revealing their passcode to anyone who might be watching.
   • Users can also configure a longer, alphanumeric passcode, which is more difficult for malicious individuals to discover. Device owners should also immediately change the key if they believe someone else has seen it.
2. Screen Time Settings:
   • Another step that can be considered is a trick that is not endorsed by Apple, but which has been circulating online. Within the settings Usage Time on one iPhonewhich allows guardians to set restrictions on how children can use the device, there is the option to set up a secondary password that would be required from any user before they can successfully change a Apple ID.
   • By enabling this, a thief would be prompted to enter this secondary password before changing a password. Apple ID.
3. Back up your phone regularly
   • Finally, users can protect themselves by regularly backing up an iPhone — via iCloud or iTunes — so that data can be recovered in the event an iPhone is stolen. At the same time, users may want to store important photos or other sensitive files and data on another cloud service, such as Google Photos, Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Photos, or Dropbox.
   • This won’t stop a malicious individual from accessing the device, but it should limit some of the consequences if this ever happens.