Apple is expected to introduce a new security feature called “Stolen Device Protection” in iOS 17.3 next week, which will significantly increase the difficulty for phone thieves to hijack an Apple ID and any financial information stored on the device. Currently, a lock screen password is sufficient to access or change sensitive personal and financial data, but with the update, thieves will need to use Face ID or Touch ID and may have to wait an hour to make certain changes.
Although Apple has not yet officially announced the launch date of this feature, it has been testing it in the 17.3 beta since December.
The new security feature addresses a key vulnerability exposed in a February 2023 Wall Street Journal report: by memorizing the iPhone’s lock screen password, thieves can easily lock the victim’s Apple ID, and the password for the Apple ID can be reset using the same password.
The “Stolen Device Protection” feature makes it difficult for anyone to steal your iPhone.
If you decide to enable the “Stolen Device Protection” feature, you must use Face ID or Touch ID to apply for a new Apple Card, completely erase the phone, or access the iCloud keychain, among other actions. If you want to change your Apple ID password, add another face or fingerprint for biometric authentication, or turn off the “Find My” feature, you must wait an hour after using facial or fingerprint authentication, and then re-authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID to make these changes. However, there will be no such delay if the phone recognizes that it is at a frequently visited place like home or the office.
Other features of iOS 17.3 include a new “Collaborative Playlists” option, which allows multiple people to edit Apple Music playlists and react to songs with animated emojis; and a new “Unity Bloom” wallpaper, which complements Apple’s latest black Unity series bands.
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