Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users

**ray_gillespie** · August 22nd, 2010

A new patent filed by Apple has detailed several security measures that an iOS-based device, for example an iPhone or iPad, could employ to disable access to sensitive information or features.

Currently, if an iOS device falls into the wrong hands the only security feature it has is a four-digit lock-code, and that's only if the feaure has been enabled by the owner. The new patent, entitled Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device, would take a different approach to identify who is using the device.

This approach could include using voice print analysis, photo analysis, and even heartbeat analysis to detect tell-tale signs of unauthorised use, like a rapid heartbeat, or face and voice detection to compare the features of the current user to the features of the device's owner.

In theory, if an iPad detects that it is being accessed by an unauthorised user, it could shut down or remove access to sensitive information. Accoring to the patent, when an unauthorized user is detected, "various safety measures can be taken", which can include alerting the real owner via text, email or voice message.

You can see the full patent here (heavy traffic seems to be causing intermittent server problems so there's also a PDF of the patent attached to this post).

**Johnny** · August 22nd, 2010

That is pretty cool. I can people not activating it though, mostly for the fact that it will turn out to be more of a pain in the butt than anything.

I think what they should do is have a finger print reader through out the device, and only allow people who's prints are on file with it to use it.

**Xie** · August 22nd, 2010

Sounds like a bad plan for a phone, what happens when the first person that is panicked because they were in an accident, or are being robbed, tries to dial 911 and the phone won't let them in due to the "safety" features.

**gonaads** · August 22nd, 2010

Originally Posted by Xie

Sounds like a bad plan for a phone, what happens when the first person that is panicked because they were in an accident, or are being robbed, tries to dial 911 and the phone won't let them in due to the "safety" features.

Well according to the iPhone user guide,

Emergency Dialing Even if your iPhone isn’t activated or doesn’t have a SIM card, you can still use it to call emergency services, for example by dialing 911. Call for help in an emergency m Tap Keypad and dial the number, then tap Call. Or if iPhone is locked with a passcode (see page 98), tap Emergency Call, then dial the number.

So if Apple is to implement any new security options I doubt they would circumvent this feature. I think you would still be able to dial it.

**Xie** · August 22nd, 2010

Emergency Dialing Even if your iPhone isn’t activated or doesn’t have a SIM card, you can still use it to call emergency services, for example by dialing 911. Call for help in an emergency m Tap Keypad and dial the number, then tap Call. Or if iPhone is locked with a passcode (see page 98), tap Emergency Call, then dial the number.

Originally Posted by gonaads

So if Apple is to implement any new security options I doubt they would circumvent this feature. I think you would still be able to dial it.

Who has actually read 98+ pages of the iPhone manual? How do you make the emergency call show up if the phone is locked (I've never locked my iPhone so maybe this is easy)?

**X-Istence** · August 23rd, 2010

Ehm, when your phone is locked you turn it back on, slide over to unlock and then click "Emergency Call".

Not exactly rocket science.

**gonaads** · August 23rd, 2010

Originally Posted by Xie

Who has actually read 98+ pages of the iPhone manual? How do you make the emergency call show up if the phone is locked (I've never locked my iPhone so maybe this is easy)?

My post says "see page 98".

**Xie** · August 23rd, 2010

Originally Posted by X-Istence

Ehm, when your phone is locked you turn it back on, slide over to unlock and then click "Emergency Call".

Not exactly rocket science.

Never locked my phone.

I was thinking the lock came before the slide. Also interesting that "Emergency Call" is right there if you lock, but not if you don't.

/me goes off to build a rocket

August 22nd, 2010	Top \| #2
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users That is pretty cool. I can people not activating it though, mostly for the fact that it will turn out to be more of a pain in the butt than anything. I think what they should do is have a finger print reader through out the device, and only allow people who's prints are on file with it to use it. Paul Reed Smith.

August 22nd, 2010	Top \| #3
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Sounds like a bad plan for a phone, what happens when the first person that is panicked because they were in an accident, or are being robbed, tries to dial 911 and the phone won't let them in due to the "safety" features. tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

August 22nd, 2010	Top \| #4
gonaads Beware the G-Man Joined: March 2002 Location: XP-erience, NTFS, OSNN, Bay Area, California Posts: 18,474 Reputation: 4070 Power: 348	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Originally Posted by Xie Sounds like a bad plan for a phone, what happens when the first person that is panicked because they were in an accident, or are being robbed, tries to dial 911 and the phone won't let them in due to the "safety" features. Well according to the iPhone user guide, Emergency Dialing Even if your iPhone isn’t activated or doesn’t have a SIM card, you can still use it to call emergency services, for example by dialing 911. Call for help in an emergency m Tap Keypad and dial the number, then tap Call. Or if iPhone is locked with a passcode (see page 98), tap Emergency Call, then dial the number. So if Apple is to implement any new security options I doubt they would circumvent this feature. I think you would still be able to dial it. *"I play violent video games, I could snap at any second."*

August 22nd, 2010	Top \| #5
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Emergency Dialing Even if your iPhone isn’t activated or doesn’t have a SIM card, you can still use it to call emergency services, for example by dialing 911. Call for help in an emergency m Tap Keypad and dial the number, then tap Call. Or if iPhone is locked with a passcode (see page 98), tap Emergency Call, then dial the number. Originally Posted by gonaads So if Apple is to implement any new security options I doubt they would circumvent this feature. I think you would still be able to dial it. Who has actually read 98+ pages of the iPhone manual? How do you make the emergency call show up if the phone is locked (I've never locked my iPhone so maybe this is easy)? tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

August 23rd, 2010	Top \| #6
X-Istence * Joined: December 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,496 Reputation: 2808 Power: 220	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Ehm, when your phone is locked you turn it back on, slide over to unlock and then click "Emergency Call". Not exactly rocket science. An engineers technical notebook

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August 23rd, 2010	Top \| #7
gonaads Beware the G-Man Joined: March 2002 Location: XP-erience, NTFS, OSNN, Bay Area, California Posts: 18,474 Reputation: 4070 Power: 348	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Originally Posted by Xie Who has actually read 98+ pages of the iPhone manual? How do you make the emergency call show up if the phone is locked (I've never locked my iPhone so maybe this is easy)? My post says "see page 98". *"I play violent video games, I could snap at any second."*

August 23rd, 2010	Top \| #8
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Apples Moves to Lock Out Unauthorised iOS Users Originally Posted by X-Istence Ehm, when your phone is locked you turn it back on, slide over to unlock and then click "Emergency Call". Not exactly rocket science. Never locked my phone. I was thinking the lock came before the slide. Also interesting that "Emergency Call" is right there if you lock, but not if you don't. /me goes off to build a rocket tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

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