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Recent iPhone thefts highlight the danger of using passcodes in public

9To5Mac: “A new report from The Wall Street Journal looks at a recent trend of iPhone thefts that have happened across the US. Instead of just looking to snatch devices, these thieves are watching for passcodes so they can immediately get into iPhones, change Apple ID passwords, access financial accounts, and more. Here’s a look at the risks of using an iPhone passcode in public, how much power the passcode wields, and some steps to keep yourself safer. WSJ’s Joanna Stern has been hearing from victims about a specific kind of iPhone theft. What’s happening is thieves are watching for people to enter their passcodes in public places like bars before stealing the devices, sometimes right out of their hands. Joanna interviewed one victim whose entire digital life was lost after her iPhone was stolen with the thieves changing her Apple ID password within 3 minutes of taking her smartphone. Then they stole thousands of dollars through Apple Pay, opened an Apple Card to make fraudulent charges, and more using the passcode they obtained. These thieves often work in groups with one distracting a victim while another records over a shoulder as they enter their passcode. Others have been known to even befriend victims, asking them to open social media or other apps on their iPhones so they can watch and memorize the passcode before stealing it…”

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