Anyway to access a iPhone without knowing the passcode?

FishThrower · 24 Oct 2015 at 00:23

Hi all,

Bit of a long shot... One of my friends mother died yesterday unexpectedly , and we are trying to access the contacts on her iPhone so we can notify her friends of the news.

Phone hasn't been jail broken, and I'm sure that it's not synced by iCloud or IMAP. I'm not sure if it's even been backed up by iTunes ( will ask my friend this)

Are there any tools out there that would allow me to bypass the lock code?

Thanks

MrMoonX · 24 Oct 2015 at 00:34

HAz · 24 Oct 2015 at 01:37

never

snow patrol · 24 Oct 2015 at 10:12

i have a friend who's daughter died and they wanted to get her itunes/apple id password to get some stuff that she had. Apple refused and they had to go through a legal process to eventually get the password.

going into an apple store and explaining what's happened won't make any difference i'm afraid (not that they would be able to unlock the phone any way)

MrMoonX · 24 Oct 2015 at 12:43

snow patrol said:
i have a friend who's daughter died and they wanted to get her itunes/apple id password to get some stuff that she had. Apple refused and they had to go through a legal process to eventually get the password.

going into an apple store and explaining what's happened won't make any difference i'm afraid (not that they would be able to unlock the phone any way)

what legal process, no one not even apple can access a locked iPhone running iOS 8 or later

Caged · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:03

MrMoonX said:
No

VaderDSL · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:07

MrMoonX said:
what legal process, no one not even apple can access a locked iPhone running iOS 8 or later

He might be referring to the iCloud account as a general. You can get iCloud accounts unlocked/transferred/deleted if it is in a will as a specific item.

On Holiday · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:24

Yes, but you'd have to send it off to a PROPER Apple repair centre and there is quite a cost involved.

(Edit)
Probably not something that's generally available to public though actually.

Iirc the ones we received at the repair centre were from a division of the NCA.

KIA · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:49

The latest lock screen bypass may work if iOS hasn't been updated.

Terminal_Boy · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:53

MrMoonX said:
what legal process, no one not even apple can access a locked iPhone running iOS 8 or later

Of course they can.

How else would they refurbish 14 day returns and restore them to NIB condition without the tools to fully unlock their products?

VaderDSL · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:56

Terminal_Boy said:
Of course they can.

How else would they refurbish 14 day returns and restore them to NIB condition without the tools to fully unlock their products?

Apple can't unlock devices to access the data (passcode/touch ID), full stop. You can erase the entire device though, anyone can do that. If activation lock is enabled it can be removed by Apple or yourself via iCloud.com

FishThrower · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:57

Thanks for the replays guys, proves how secure iPhones are really which is nice to know.

I haven't got the heart to suggest the finger print ID method to unlock the keypad, as that would be plain weird and freaky!

On Holiday · 24 Oct 2015 at 13:58

Terminal_Boy said:
Of course they can.

How else would they refurbish 14 day returns and restore them to NIB condition without the tools to fully unlock their products?

Tbf the process involved in returning a 14 day "unwanted" return back to a "new in box" state is so rigorous you wouldn't even know it was not new from Asia.

If the device has even the slightest blemish that can't be cleaned up it goes back to Asia to be rebuilt.

On Holiday · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:00

VaderDSL said:
Apple can't unlock devices to access the data (passcode/touch ID), full stop. You can erase the entire device though, anyone can do that. If activation lock is enabled it can be removed by Apple or yourself via iCloud.com

Err, they can unlock phones and access them.
Though not for any tom, dick or harry.

The code to to the software that unlocks the phone is generated every 12 hours and only the senior manager can obtain that code. This is at a very secure apple repair centre, not an apple shop or "authorised repaired"

VaderDSL · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:01

FishThrower said:
Thanks for the replays guys, proves how secure iPhones are really which is nice to know.

I haven't got the heart to suggest the finger print ID method to unlock the keypad, as that would be plain weird and freaky!

It's interesting, I believe in the U.S in some state(s) you can legally refuse to unlock your phone that is protected by a passcode, however if it is secured via a fingerprint then you can be forced to unlock the device due to perceived difference between knowledge of your passcode and the fact fingerprints are considered evidence, or something along those lines.

VaderDSL · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:02

Archeum said:
Err, they can unlock phones and access them.
Though not for any tom, dick or harry.

The code to to the software that unlocks the phone is generated every 12 hours and only the senior manager can obtain that code.

Nope, if a phone is passcode or touch ID locked Apple can't do anything, you're referring to iOS activation lock, completely different topic.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201365

I think the confusion is down to the terminology. Unlocking an iPhone in my eyes refers to having the device in front of me and it requiring a fngerprint or passcode. For this there is no way to bypass this protection.

For some people, I think yourself, you are thinking about Find my iPhone Activation lock, for which there are ways to remove it.

On Holiday · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:06

No, I'm referring to unlocking a phone protected by a passcode

I have seen it done.

(Edit) I no longer work for them nor did I sign any disclosure so I'm not bothered about telling you what can be done.

VaderDSL · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:11

Archeum said:
No, I'm referring to unlocking a phone protected by a passcode I have seen it done.

Where have you seen it done? I work at an Apple store there is no way to do what you are suggesting, the managers can remove activation lock from devices, but passcodes/fingerprints cannot be bypassed.

I think you're confused with activation unlock requests.

Apple cannot access your data if it is protected by a passcode or fingerprint if you have iOS 8+

http://www.apple.com/lae/privacy/government-information-requests/

On devices running iOS 8 and later versions, your personal data is placed under the protection of your passcode. For all devices running iOS 8 and later versions, Apple will not perform iOS data extractions in response to government search warrants because the files to be extracted are protected by an encryption key that is tied to the user’s passcode, which Apple does not possess.

It;s big news at the moment as law enforcement agencies are a bit upset at not being able to force companies like Apple to hand over encryption keys to bypass passcode/fingerprint locks etc.

On Holiday · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:19

The return and distribution centre in Lutterworth. The only place in the UK that has the facility to do so. When I was there, there were only 2 managers with access to request a code to the software to unlock a phone.

It was done for crime agencies.

I'm 100% sure it is for what I say it is

and not activation locks as anybody on the repair floor could use that.

Caged · 24 Oct 2015 at 14:20

FishThrower said:
I haven't got the heart to suggest the finger print ID method to unlock the keypad, as that would be plain weird and freaky!

That really is your best option though. Don't turn the phone off or let it power down if you're planning to do this, as it needs the PIN on first boot.

Archeum/VaderDSL - you might both be right. When did you work at the Apple place, since it sounds like Apple being able to unlock devices stopped at iOS 8, which was only a year ago.