Iphone: activation lock. How to check and remove the lock?

A smartphone is a multifunctional device that stores an abundance of information so important to its owner. These data must certainly be under strict protection of modern encryption methods.

The security of user data and the protection of devices from intruders have always been Apple's primary goal. This is the main principle of the company, which is the cornerstone in its foundation, which the corporation managed to preserve to this day, introducing more and more protective tools. The level of security in iOS went to an unprecedented level, to the point that stealing the phone became virtually meaningless.

What is activation blocking in the iPhone?

Activation blocking is a protective tool that has become an extension for the previously introduced "Find iPhone" option. The activation lock was implemented in the iOS operating system in 2013 along with the release of the seventh generation of software and described by the company as an ideal tool against thieves.

Indeed, the California corporation has already managed to report that the number of thefts of the iPhone has significantly decreased, and those that continue to be committed are no longer accompanied by data loss and falling into the wrong hands.

The question arises, can such a seemingly ideal system of protection harm the rightful owner of the iPhone? The activation blocking, alas, was instantly studied by intruders and is often used for extortion and blackmail.

Principle of operation

If the "Find iPhone" function is activated on one of the Apple devices, and the seventh generation and later operating system is used, all data, including activation information, is moved to Apple servers and stored there until the "Find iPhone" function Turned off by the device owner. In fact, the device is completely tied to one single Apple ID account. Only the true owner of the device will be able to activate it after firmware and fully control all data stored on it and in a digital cloud. No keys are stored, so even Apple employees will not be able to access the data, which indicates the maximum security of this technology.

Checking the activation of the iPhone

What for it can be necessary? First of all, it is important for those who give / sell their gadget to an outside person, and, of course, for those who buy the device, as they say, from the hands. In the on state, this function can deliver a lot of problems to both the old device owner and the new one. Therefore, you should make sure that the activation of the iPhone is enabled. You can check this on the iCloud website by entering the serial number of the gadget or IMEI number.

Also, you can check the status of the lock by trying to turn on the gadget. At a certain stage, the locked phone will ask you to enter the password for the Apple ID (which was previously activated on this smartphone).

Lock iPhone activation: how to unprotect?

The bottom line is that the activation lock is directly related to the "Find iPhone" feature, so you need to disable it. For this you need:

• Go to device settings.
• Find and select the iCloud subitem.
• Scroll down and select the "Find iPhone" submenu.
• Toggle the toggle switch to the off position.
• Enter the account information for confirmation.

That's all, in a few simple steps you can untie the device from your account. If necessary, this procedure can be done remotely using the iCloud.com website. For this you need:

• Go to the iCloud.com website.
• Select "Find iPhone".
• In the list of devices, find the necessary gadget and remove it from the list.
• Enter the account information for confirmation.

System Pitfalls

Strangely enough, but such an advanced protection mechanism can go sideways to the end user, both for his own fault and for the scammers. About everything in order.

It's important to understand that unsuccessful attempts to log into the account can launch protection mechanisms on the iPhone. The activation lock will not keep you waiting, regardless of whether you forgot the password or someone else entered it incorrectly. Apple will restrict access to the device until the password is reset.

The second problem with fraudsters is somewhat more complicated. Beginning extortionists under various pretexts cause the negligent users to enter the data of the Apple ID on their smartphone offered by the attacker, and then instantly translates it into the stealing mode and ask the user to transfer a certain amount of money if he again wants to use the device. Naturally, nobody needs to pay, because there are at least two ways to solve the problem.

Bypassing protection through hacking (Jailbreak)

If it so happens that you have been stolen access to the iPhone 4 with iOS 7 installed on it, then you can use the utility JB iOS, which will return access to the device, however, in a limited form. The phone will stop working with the SIM card and, in fact, will be something similar to iPod touch. This approach does not work with other models, such as iPhone 5. The activation lock will not be disabled in this case.

Returning access to the device using Apple technical support

The most effective, honest and legal way to get yourself a gadget is to call Apple support. You can contact the Russian support service (you can order a call on the official website), but they need proof that the device was bought officially. In addition, you need a sales receipt. If you do not have one, you need to contact the store where the gadget was purchased (the check should be stored in the database up to 4 years).

If there is no check, you can try your luck and apply to the American support service. You can get to them by calling Skype 1-800-MY-IPHONE. To confirm that you are the owner of the device, you will need to provide IMEI, serial number, answer sensitive questions (very important), know which purchases were made in the AppStore and iTunes Store. In most cases, experts from the US are meeting inexperienced users and within half an hour return access to the device. Unfortunately, Russian technical support can not boast such loyalty.

Instead of concluding

Regardless of the advanced protection mechanisms of the gadget, you should always think twice before committing any suspicious manipulations, and first of all rely on yourself, not on the computer.