Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


Rikkitic

Awrrr
18581 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#237652 11-Jun-2018 19:56
Send private message

There is an item on Fair Go tonight about a widow with a young daughter who cannot access her husband's family photos and videos on his iPhone because she doesn't have the password. Apple seems to be going out of its way to be as unhelpful as possible. Even Fair Go can't move them. 

 

The item ended with an appeal for help from viewers. If there are any Apple hackers here who might know how to break into the phone or otherwise get past the security, maybe you could get in touch with Fair Go. I don't know any more than what I saw on the segment but the woman's plight seems genuine and Apple seems particularly callous to her. She just wants to get at her dead husband's extensive collection of family memories so she can share them with her daughter, who she is afraid may otherwise forget who her father was. That surely isn't too much to ask.

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
sbiddle
30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  #2033885 11-Jun-2018 20:08
Send private message

You can't "break" into the phone. If you don't have access to the Apple account or know the email address for a reset you're not going to get access.

 

Probably a good reminder to people about the risks of having things secured.


tdgeek
29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2033889 11-Jun-2018 20:12
Send private message

I saw that. Its fine if Apple uphold their security stance, no issues with that. But sad they don't accept JP and lawyer letters. If they had probate, it seems it would have been ok.

 

I googled after watching that, there seem to be ways. Back it up with a third party with iTunes backup then restore it. I was going to see links to FairGo, but I'm sure someone who knows for sure will. You can see photos just by connecting to a PC, in Windows Explorer, but if they arent all there, they might be in iCloud. 

 

Hoping someone will rescue what is a 10 second job for Apples helpdesk.


Dial111
972 posts

Ultimate Geek


  #2033892 11-Jun-2018 20:14
Send private message

Morally I think what they're asking isn't too much of Apple but Apple do take the privacy of others seriously, case in point, Apple refusing to let the FBI get into the San Bernardino terrorist's iPhone.



waikariboy
890 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified
Trusted

  #2033893 11-Jun-2018 20:14
Send private message

From the looks of it she needs to provide a small amount of details, that she doesn't have and will cost over 1000$ to get. start a gofundme page and problem solved. 

 

more info 

 

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/-miss-my-best-friend-grieving-widow-unable-get-photos-off-dead-husband-s-iphone-and-apple-won-t-unlock-her

 

loved how fairgo are calling apple rotten! 





Balm its gone!


Rikkitic

Awrrr
18581 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

  #2033898 11-Jun-2018 20:19
Send private message

If I correctly understood what I saw, Apple can do this but basically can't be bothered. Apparently they require a probate document that the lady can't afford, but she has given them the death certificate and all kinds of other documentation. They could do it but won't. 

 

 





Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

 


 


tdgeek
29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2033901 11-Jun-2018 20:24
Send private message

Dial111: Morally I think what they're asking isn't too much of Apple but Apple do take the privacy of others seriously, case in point, Apple refusing to let the FBI get into the San Bernardino terrorist's iPhone.

 

Very true.

 

Here, the issue is a bit easier IMHO. Its not accessing someone else info, its accessing "friendly" info. And if Apple can establish that friendly link between the deceased user and the requester, then marriage cert, death cert, legal letter, JP letter seem reasonable. 

 

As @sbiddle stated, there is a need to be aware. If the iPhone has Find My Phone, you cannot even wipe it. Happens all the time


dejadeadnz
2394 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #2033902 11-Jun-2018 20:25
Send private message

Rikitic: I haven't watched the video but your comment strikes me as extremely ignorant and one-sided. There's a reason why Apple (and I am hardly fond of their lack of CSR generally) would request an order proving probate: it serves as an order from the court that a person's last will has been "proved" and that there are valid executors of a will to execute the testator's intentions. Just because a man who happens to be married is dead, it doesn't automatically mean that legally his wife gets to do as she pleases with his property.

 

This sounds like a silly beat up to me.




Hashtagtruth
41 posts

Geek
Inactive user


  #2033903 11-Jun-2018 20:25

it Seems apple take the privacy of it's users very seriously. even in death.


tdgeek
29587 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2033904 11-Jun-2018 20:26
Send private message

Rikkitic:

 

If I correctly understood what I saw, Apple can do this but basically can't be bothered. Apparently they require a probate document that the lady can't afford, but she has given them the death certificate and all kinds of other documentation. They could do it but won't. 

 

 

 

 

Its not cannot be bothered, its their privacy policy. That is a high bar, and thats understandable given online privacy. But there needs to be a better way out. Otherwise we will all forge certificates and access stolen phones, and so on.


hio77
'That VDSL Cat'
12999 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified
Trusted
Lizard Networks
Subscriber

  #2033909 11-Jun-2018 20:31
Send private message

assuming the device isn't running an old version...

 

 

 

the encryption features are a double edged sword.

 

it has pros and cons, unfortunately this is one of the cons. 





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

 

 


PhantomNVD
2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #2033911 11-Jun-2018 20:36
Send private message

anything newer than an iphone 5 would have fingerprint recognition?

 

 

 

Too late now unless he set it up already, but Apple's Family Sharing would have allowed for this before he died also... " target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.imore.com/how-use-family-sharing-photos-icloud[/url]

 

 

 

and then there's the lockscreen bypass if its on ios11.1 ... " target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1J2SObwa68[/url]

 

 

 

and some other random lockscreen bypasses too: " target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.tenorshare.com/ios-11/bypass-lock-screen-on-ios-11.html[/url]

 

 

 

 

 

without knowing what she DOES have access too, or what IOS the phone is on, I guess it would just take a few different attempts to 'hack' this phone unless the owner took great steps to avoid all these possibilities...


PhantomNVD
2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user


  #2033920 11-Jun-2018 20:46
Send private message

after watching that video... all she needs to do is 'synch' the damn phone with his iTunes, as she DOES have access to his laptop!


wellygary
8217 posts

Uber Geek


  #2033928 11-Jun-2018 20:52
Send private message

Fairly sure you cannot sync a locked iphone,

 

 


gehenna
8436 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator
Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #2033942 11-Jun-2018 20:56
Send private message

Not unreasonable of Apple at all.  I went through all sorts of issues like this when my dad passed away, trying to get his various accounts moved over to my mother's name and having to provide all sorts of information to NZ companies.  It's not an Apple thing.  Not to be morbid but this is why it's imperative families have some prior documented way of accessing each others services - usernames/passwords/contacts/etc.  As members of a technology community like Geekzone I'd especially hope we have considered all this about our own parents as they get older.  We were unprepared with my dad but we'll be fine when mum goes, at least from the perspective that this stuff won't be hanging over us and stressing anyone out.  


Hashtagtruth
41 posts

Geek
Inactive user


  #2033946 11-Jun-2018 21:01

You can't sync with itunes without a password. My iphone can be unlocked and it wont even update though itunes without me entering my password.


 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Logitech Introduces New G522 Gaming Headset
Posted 21-May-2025 19:01


LG Announces New Ultragear OLED Range for 2025
Posted 20-May-2025 16:35


Sandisk Raises the Bar With WD_BLACK SN8100 NVME SSD
Posted 20-May-2025 16:29


Sony Introduces the Next Evolution of Noise Cancelling with the WH-1000XM6
Posted 20-May-2025 16:22


Samsung Reveals Its 2025 Line-up of Home Appliances and AV Solutions
Posted 20-May-2025 16:11


Hisense NZ Unveils Local 2025 ULED Range
Posted 20-May-2025 16:00


Synology Launches BeeStation Plus
Posted 20-May-2025 15:55


New Suunto Run Available in Australia and New Zealand
Posted 13-May-2025 21:00


Cricut Maker 4 Review
Posted 12-May-2025 15:18


Dynabook Launches Ultra-Light Portégé Z40L-N Copilot+PC with Self-Replaceable Battery
Posted 8-May-2025 14:08


Shopify Sidekick Gets a Major Reasoning Upgrade, Plus Free Image Generation
Posted 8-May-2025 14:03


Microsoft Introduces New Surface Copilot+ PCs
Posted 8-May-2025 13:56


D-Link A/NZ launches DWR-933M 4G+ LTE Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 Mobile Hotspot
Posted 8-May-2025 13:49


Synology Expands DiskStation Lineup with DS1825+ and DS1525+
Posted 8-May-2025 13:44


JBL Releases Next Generation Flip 7 and Charge 6
Posted 8-May-2025 13:41









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.







GoodSync is the easiest file sync and backup for Windows and Mac