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It's too easy to steal an Apple Watch
CNN Money ^ | 05/14/2015

Posted on 05/14/2015 10:55:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Anyone who steals an Apple Watch can -- in about 20 seconds -- simply reset it and make it their own.

That's because the way Apple designed the Apple Watch makes it surprisingly easy to override your passcode and completely wipe it clean. You can set up a passcode on the Apple Watch. But -- get ready for this -- anyone can just hold down the "Power Off" button, then select and erase all the data on the Watch.

By contrast, the iPhone has certain features that make it less desirable for criminals. If you set it up just right, the iPhone can be remotely erased -- or it can require a passcode to do anything.

It's widely recognized by law enforcement that these measures reduce the incentive for theft. In fact, San Francisco saw a 40% drop in iPhone robberies in 2014 compared to the previous year. The city's top prosecutor attributed it all to "kill-switch" technology that allowed deactivation of stolen phones.

Apple didn't add a kill-switch to the Apple Watch. One reason could be that the Apple Watch doesn't connect independently to cellular networks or Wi-Fi, so sending it a self-destruct messages from afar is a tricky task.

Still unclear, however, is why it's so easy for a stranger to simply erase all the data on your Apple Watch without so much as a password.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: apple; applewatch; smartwatch; theft
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1 posted on 05/14/2015 10:55:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

well thanks to CNN everybody knows that now.


2 posted on 05/14/2015 10:58:47 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: SeekAndFind

Well... it is just a watch, LOL.


3 posted on 05/14/2015 10:59:13 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: SeekAndFind

Wow thank God, I only stick to only a simple watch. I don’t need one with internet, phone, etc. A simple watch will do for me.


4 posted on 05/14/2015 11:03:47 AM PDT by Patriot Babe
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To: SeekAndFind

Which is why people will agree to having implants.


5 posted on 05/14/2015 11:04:01 AM PDT by huldah1776
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To: MeshugeMikey

“well thanks to CNN everybody knows that now.”

Uh, every news organization and blog already has an article on this.


6 posted on 05/14/2015 11:04:06 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: Patriot Babe

“Wow thank God, I only stick to only a simple watch.”

Did you know that anyone can reset your watch without knowing your password?


7 posted on 05/14/2015 11:05:18 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: TexasGator

I was being sarcastic../S


8 posted on 05/14/2015 11:09:59 AM PDT by MeshugeMikey ("Never, Never, Never, Give Up," Winston Churchill ><>)
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To: TexasGator

(*laugh*)


9 posted on 05/14/2015 11:11:41 AM PDT by paladinan (Rule #1: There is a God. Rule #2: It isn't you.)
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To: SeekAndFind

These days, Americans have to plan on, and make accommodations for, thieves.

What’s wrong with this picture...?


10 posted on 05/14/2015 11:20:09 AM PDT by Jack Hammer
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To: SeekAndFind
Umm. I'm really stupid and I live in a cave. I didn't hear about this trick, but I would like me one of them new watches.

So I liberate a watch from a rich honky and I take out the battery, and leave it out for a day.

Now it's reset.

Or am I missing something?

11 posted on 05/14/2015 11:20:57 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

What you’re missing is that “rich honky” is redundant. All honkies are rich, which is why they run the world. The only poor ones are the ones who aren’t honkies.


12 posted on 05/14/2015 11:32:56 AM PDT by DPMD
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To: TexasGator

Well yes except for one thing. My watch is from the late 60’s. =)


13 posted on 05/14/2015 11:35:43 AM PDT by Patriot Babe
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To: Patriot Babe

“Well yes except for one thing. My watch is from the late 60’s. =)”

I still have my HS graduation watch from 1965!

101 jewels and self-winding!


14 posted on 05/14/2015 11:47:15 AM PDT by TexasGator
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To: SeekAndFind

Good points. CNN just shot a dart through Apples heart.


15 posted on 05/14/2015 11:54:54 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: TexasGator
101 jewels and self-winding!

101 jewels ...


16 posted on 05/14/2015 1:54:17 PM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: TexasGator
"101 jewels and self-winding!"

Ah, the hey-day of the "jewel wars"!

So bad were they that some companies took to gluing non-functional jewels (synthetic rubies, mostly) to useless places (like on the rotor) just to hike up the jewel count :)

You should open it up just to see!

17 posted on 05/14/2015 2:03:07 PM PDT by SparkyBass
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To: Swordmaker

Calling the Appleistas....


18 posted on 05/14/2015 2:59:00 PM PDT by Neidermeyer ("Our courts should not be collection agencies for crooks." — John Waihee, Governor of Hawaii, 1986-)
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To: SeekAndFind; ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; ...
Who steals watches these days? Some pundits are claiming the Apple Watch is "too easy to steal" because, according to them, it doesn't have any software protection from being re-synched to someone else's iPhone. . . Of course, one should be asking what protection do Rolex and Patek Philippe watches have from being stolen? Oh, none! — PING!


Steal this Apple Watch?
Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

The Freepathon is on its downward leg. . . I challenge the members of the Apple ping list to each donate at least $10 each to the latest Freepathon. I HAVE donated $100. Many members of the Apple Ping list are already rising to the challenge. Join them. Let's show the power of the Apple Ping list in supporting Freerepublic!

If you have ordered an Apple Watch,
MAKE A DONATION TO THE FREEPATHON!

19 posted on 05/14/2015 3:31:49 PM PDT by Swordmaker ( This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: Swordmaker
Of course, one should be asking what protection do Rolex and Patek Philippe watches have from being stolen?

While still maintaining that "it's not really a watch".

20 posted on 05/14/2015 3:34:49 PM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh, bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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