What’s the Worst Thing Someone Can Do With Your Unlocked iPhone?

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  • August 5, 2019

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We use our phones for event tickets, reservations, insurance cards, and even driver’s licenses. But what happens when someone takes your unlocked iPhone out of view for a moment—what’s the risk? What’s the worst thing someone can do?

This is also relevant at international borders, where your unlocked phone might be taken from you—hopefully temporarily.

Financial Details and Passwords Are Secure

Face ID prompt for an online banking app on an iPhone.

Letting your iPhone out of your sight for a moment isn’t as risky as it seems. If you have an online banking or another financial app on your iPhone, the person with your phone probably can’t open it. Most of these apps use Face ID, Touch ID, or even a PIN to authenticate you. Someone with access to your unlocked phone can’t unlock your banking app—not without pointing it at your face to authenticate with Face ID, at least.

Many other sensitive apps are secured with additional protection like this, too. Someone with your phone can’t buy apps on the App Store in password manager apps like LastPass and 1Password.

Your Email, SMS, and Photos Could Be Snooped On

If your phone is out of your view, it’s trivial for someone with it to look at your notifications, photos, SMS messages, and anything else you can tap. Anything you can access with your phone unlocked is accessible to them—and that’s a lot.

They could even open Messages, Mail, or Facebook and send messages as you. Someone who has it out for you could post an offensive message on social media or email your boss an insulting email. They could access your web browser, look at your browsing history, and use any website you’re logged into. All bets are off here.

In fact, someone with access to your phone could even email or send themselves some of your photos or other messages.

In theory, someone with access to your phone could use SMS message verification to gain access to one of your accounts, too. They could reset the password on your account, use email or SMS to get a code, and then try to provide a new password.

They Can’t Install Software

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