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Stolen Device Protection in latest iOS 17.3 update protects your iPhone even more from crooks

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Stolen Device Protection in latest iOS 17.3 update protects your iPhone even more from crooks

What would happen if your iPhone fell into the wrong hands? Have you ever worried about that? Well, worry no more, because Apple just rolled out a new software update that makes your phone more secure than ever.

The now available iOS 17.3 update comes with a feature called Stolen Device Protection, which locks down your phone with your biometric verification. This means that it prevents a crook from accessing or changing certain settings on your phone without your Face ID or Touch ID. 

Stolen Device Protection can be a lifesaver if your iPhone gets lost or stolen, as it gives you more time to track it down or wipe it clean. It also stops a thief from using your saved passwords, credit cards, or Apple Cash to buy stuff or send money. With Stolen Device Protection, you can rest assured that your iPhone is safe and secure, even if it’s not in your hands.

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Stolen Device Protection feature on iPhone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

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How Stolen Device Protection prevents unauthorized access to your iPhone

Stolen Device Protection enhances the security of your iPhone by requiring Face ID or Touch ID for certain actions, even if you have a passcode set up. Normally, if Face ID or Touch ID fails, you can enter your passcode to unlock your phone or perform other tasks. But with Stolen Device Protection, some actions will only accept your face or fingerprint, and others will have a security delay of one hour before you can use your passcode.

This means that if someone steals your iPhone and tries to access your sensitive data or change your settings, they won’t be able to do so without your biometric verification. And if they try to guess your passcode, they’ll have to wait an hour before they can try again. Stolen Device Protection applies to the following eight actions on your iPhone:

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1) Use payment methods saved in Safari (autofill)

2) Turn off Lost Mode

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3) Use passwords or passkeys saved in Keychain

4) Erase all content and settings

5) Apply for a new Apple Card

6) Use your iPhone to set up a new device (for example, Quick Start)

7) Take certain Apple Cash and Savings actions in Wallet (for example, Apple Cash or Savings transfers)

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8) View Apple Card virtual card number

How Stolen Device Protection affects your iPhone security settings and Apple ID

With Stolen Device Protection, you might have to wait for an hour before you can modify important security settings or your Apple ID. You need to verify your identity with Face ID or Touch ID if your iPhone is in an unfamiliar place. After the security delay is over, you have to use Face ID or Touch ID once more to change the following 8 actions on your iPhone.

1) Change your Apple ID password

2) Sign out of your Apple ID

3) Update Apple ID account security settings (such as adding or removing a trusted device, Recovery Key, or Recovery Contact)

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4) Add or remove Face ID or Touch ID

5) Change your iPhone passcode

6) Reset All Settings

7) Turn off Find My

8) Turn off Stolen Device Protection

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Stolen Device Protection also adapts to your location. By default, it won’t activate if your iPhone is in a familiar place, such as your home or work. But if your iPhone is in an unfamiliar place, it will ask for your Face ID or Touch ID before you can do any of the actions listed above.

How to update your iPhone software to iOS 17.3

First things first, Stolen Device Protection is available on iPhones that support Face ID or Touch ID and have iOS 17.3 or later installed. So, if you haven’t installed iOS 17.3, here’s how to do it.

  • Make sure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network and has enough battery power
  • Go to Settings
  • Tap General
  • Next, click Software Update
  • Tap Download and Install if you see the iOS 17.3 update available
  • Enter your passcode if prompted and agree to the terms and conditions
  • Wait for the download and installation to complete. Your iPhone will restart automatically when the update is done.

Screen showing software updated (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

Before turning on Stolen Device Protection

Before you enable Stolen Device Protection, you must use two-factor authentication for your Apple ID and set up or enable the following on your iPhone: a device passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, Find My, and Significant Locations (Location Services). To turn on Significant Locations, go to Settings, tap Privacy & Security, and then click Location Services. Scroll down to System Services and click it, then tap Significant Locations.

iPhone screen pop-up warning (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

How to turn on Find My on iPhone

  • Go to Settings
  • Tap on your name at the top of the screen.
  • Click on Find My
  • Then tap on Find My iPhone

Steps to turn on Find My on iPhone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

  • Next, toggle on the switch next to Find My iPhone. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password to confirm.

DON’T CLICK THAT LINK! HOW TO SPOT, PREVENT PHISHING ATTACKS IN YOUR INBOX

Steps to turn on Find My on iPhone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

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How to enable Stolen Device Protection on your iPhone

Now that you performed all of those steps above, you are ready to turn on Stolen Device Protection. To enable it, follow these steps:

  • Go to Settings
  • Tap on Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode)
  • Enter your passcode if prompted
  • Scroll down to the section for Stolen Device Protection and tap on Turn On Protection

Steps to turn on Stolen Device Protection on iPhone (Kurt “Cyberguy” Knutsson)

What isn’t protected with Stolen Device Protection?

If a crook has your passcode, Stolen Device Protection isn’t going to stop them from accessing your email and other unprotected apps. Third-party accounts can be reset by email or text. Apple Pay also still works with just a passcode. That’s why you need to take 3 extra steps to secure your device:

1) Create a strong passcode: Make sure you don’t have an easy-to-guess passcode like 1-2-3-4. You can create an Alphanumeric passcode on your iPhone, which means you can use letters, numbers, special symbols, or any character that is on the full keyboard. Here’s how to do it.

  • Go to Settings
  • Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode
  • Enter your current passcode 
  • Scroll down and click Change Passcode
  • Enter your current Passcode again
  • Tap where it says Passcode Options
  • Tap Custom Alphanumeric Code
  • Type in your new Alphanumeric passcode (you can use letters, numbers, special symbols, or any characters) 
  • Then tap Next 

For the next 72 hours, you can use your previous passcode to reset your new passcode if you forget it. Speaking of forgetting, we recommend using a password manager to securely store and generate the complex Alphanumeric passcode on your iPhone. It will help you to create a unique and difficult-to-crack Alphanumeric passcode that a hacker could never guess. It also keeps track of all your passcodes and passwords in one place.

2) Add PINs to sensitive apps, especially your finance apps, by enabling an additional PIN or biometrics. If you use an authenticator app, you can turn on Face ID or Touch ID protection. 

3) If your device is stolen, act quickly: You’ll want to log onto icloud.com/find to locate your device and remotely erase its data – pronto! Find out how to find your lost phone here.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Stolen Device Protection is a new feature that makes your iPhone more secure from thieves and hackers. It requires Face ID or Touch ID for certain actions, even if you have a passcode set up. It also has a security delay of one hour for some actions, giving you more time to locate or erase your device. And it adapts to your location, only activating when your iPhone is in an unfamiliar place.

How would you react if your iPhone were stolen and you had this feature enabled? Would it at least make you feel a bit more secure? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips & security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.

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Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images

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Discord accidentally banned over 8,000 people for posting grids and other ‘benign’ images

Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord co-founder and chief technology officer, writes that the bug impacted around 200 users who posted “grid-like” pictures, in addition to about 8,000 people who posted “other benign images” since May 2026. “Everyone affected has now been unbanned,” Vishnevskiy says.

In a thread on X, Discord writes that its safety system is designed to flag content by “matching it against known harmful material.” This system can produce “false positives,” Discord explains, which is when an employee would step in to review the flagged content. But instead of just temporarily preventing the account from uploading content during the review, a glitch led its system to ban users entirely.

“When our staff reviewed and cleared those accounts, the same bug prevented the ban from being lifted automatically, so it just stayed in place,” Discord says.

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Hoto’s PixelDrive screwdriver is down to $60, matching its best price

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Hoto’s PixelDrive screwdriver is down to , matching its best price

If your Prime Day purchases included a new desk, TV stand, bookshelf, or other furniture you still haven’t assembled, Hoto’s PixelDrive cordless screwdriver can help speed up the process. It’s currently on sale for $59.99 ($20 off) at Amazon, matching its best price to date.

From tightening loose screws on furniture to repairing electronics, the PixelDrive is designed to handle a wide range of household projects. Hoto includes 30 screwdriver bits that cover many of the most common screw types, all neatly organized in a small cylindrical case. It also offers six adjustable torque settings, allowing you to use less power when working with fragile electronics or increase it when putting together a desk, bookshelf, TV stand, or other furniture. You can also switch between a slower 80RPM mode for more precise work and a faster 200RPM mode with the press of a button.

Hoto also added several features that make assembling projects a little easier. A built-in display lets you quickly check your current torque setting and remaining battery life, while an integrated LED light helps illuminate dim spaces, whether you’re working under a desk or inside a cabinet. The rechargeable 2,000mAh battery also charges over USB-C, so you won’t need to keep buying disposable batteries.

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Technology

Starship delivery robots leave campuses for cities

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Starship delivery robots leave campuses for cities

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Those little white robots that once rolled across college sidewalks with lattes, fries and late-night snacks are getting a new assignment. Starship Technologies recently announced that it will wind down its U.S. university campus operations and redeploy more than 1,200 robots toward grocery chains and hot food delivery in cities across the United States and Europe.

If you have ever watched one of these robots patiently wait at a crosswalk like a polite cooler on wheels, you know why students got attached. They became part campus convenience, part mascot. Now, the company is moving from a controlled campus setting into a much tougher public test.

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That raises the bigger question: will these cute campus robots be just as welcome when they start sharing crowded city sidewalks with you?

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Starship is winding down U.S. campus robot operations as it expands grocery delivery in the U.S. and Europe. (Starship)

 

Why Starship is pulling robots from college campuses

Starship says the decision comes down to focus. The company says its grocery delivery operations are on a 10x growth trajectory over the next two years, driven by demand from major retailers in the United States and Europe.

In Finland, Starship says its robots already complete roughly one in five grocery deliveries. That gives the company a real-world model it wants to repeat elsewhere. To support that expansion, more than 1,200 robots from U.S. campus fleets will be moved into grocery delivery. For Starship, that is a major pivot. Campuses helped the company build its brand in the U.S. They also gave the robots a place to learn.

 

Why college campuses were the perfect robot testing ground

Starship made a big U.S. splash at George Mason University in 2019, when the school became the first U.S. university to offer autonomous robot deliveries from Starship. From there, the robots spread to dozens of campuses. That made sense. College students are often hungry at odd hours. Many live without a full kitchen. They also tend to be open to new tech, especially when it brings food to the dorm without small talk.

During the pandemic, contactless delivery became even more appealing. A robot that could roll up with lunch while limiting person-to-person contact suddenly felt useful in a very different way.

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The campus pullback will not happen overnight

Starship says it has worked with its university campuses and industry partners to keep service running through the 2026–2027 back-to-school season, with transition plans in place to reduce disruption. So, this does not appear to be an instant shutdown where every campus robot disappears at once. Instead, the company is moving away from the university model while preparing its fleet for a bigger push into grocery and restaurant delivery.

For students who loved the bots, it may still feel like the end of an era. For Starship, though, it is a move toward the market where the company believes the economics are stronger. Starship CEO and co-founder Ahti Heinla says the company’s robots can deliver groceries at a cost $3-$4 lower per delivery than traditional courier fulfillment. That is the kind of claim that gets the attention of retailers trying to make last-mile delivery less expensive.

ZOOX ROBOTAXI REDESIGN BRINGS BIG RIDER UPGRADES

 

Why city sidewalks could be a tougher test

The next phase could get messy. Delivery robots have to share sidewalks with people who are walking, pushing strollers, using wheelchairs, carrying groceries or trying to catch a bus. That means every design choice matters. A robot that blocks a curb ramp can create a real problem. A robot that pauses in the wrong spot can turn from cute to irritating fast. If one reverses unexpectedly or gets stuck near a crosswalk, the novelty wears off even faster.

There have already been warning signs. Reports have described delivery robots bumping into people, getting stuck in odd places and raising accessibility concerns. Chicago has also seen local pushback and safety concerns around sidewalk delivery robots, which shows Starship still has work to do if it wants city residents to embrace them. That is the challenge Starship now faces. The same robot that felt charming on a campus may feel like clutter on a narrow sidewalk.

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Starship Technologies is shifting more than 1,200 campus delivery robots to grocery and restaurant deliveries in cities. (Starship)

 

What grocery delivery changes

Grocery delivery is a different business from campus food delivery. A college order might be a sandwich, a soda or a late-night snack. A grocery run can involve heavier items, more frequent routes and customers who expect reliability every time. If Starship can make that work, the payoff could be huge. Grocery stores want cheaper local delivery. Customers want speed without sky-high fees. Cities want fewer cars clogging short delivery routes.

Starship says the global food delivery market is now worth $650 billion and needs delivery systems with higher autonomy levels. The company also says it has completed more than 10 million deliveries, which gives it a sizable head start in the sidewalk robot category.

However, the public will need convincing. People may welcome a robot bringing milk and eggs on a rainy night. They may also get annoyed if that same robot blocks a sidewalk during the morning rush. That will all decide whether sidewalk robots become normal or face more local limits.

 

Why Estonia still matters to Starship

Starship was founded in Tallinn, Estonia, in 2014 by Ahti Heinla and Janus Friis. Estonia remains home to the company’s core engineering and AI development team. That is important because this shift is not only about where the robots operate.

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The big question for robot delivery

Starship’s move shows where the delivery robot business is headed. College campuses helped make the robots likable. Grocery delivery may determine whether they become profitable. Still, the sidewalks belong to the public. That means companies need more than clever machines. They need trust, clear rules and designs that respect people who move through cities in different ways.

A delivery robot should never make a sidewalk harder to use for someone with a cane, stroller or wheelchair. It should not turn public space into an obstacle course. If companies want these robots to feel normal, they need to prove they can operate without making daily life more frustrating.

ARE HUMANOID ROBOTS NOW COMING FOR RETAIL JOBS?

Starship says grocery delivery demand is pushing its robot fleet from college campuses into urban neighborhoods. (Starship)

 

What this means to you

You may start seeing more delivery robots near grocery stores, restaurants and apartment-heavy neighborhoods. If that happens, pay attention to how they behave in your area. Look for whether they yield to pedestrians, avoid curb ramps and handle crowded sidewalks well. Also, check whether your city has rules for personal delivery devices. Some places allow pilot programs, while others limit where these robots can operate.

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If a robot causes a problem, document it safely. Take a photo or video, note the location and report it to your city or the delivery company. That is important because local officials need real examples, not vague frustration, when they decide what rules should apply. There is also a privacy angle. These robots use sensors and cameras to navigate. Companies may say the data supports safe operation, but you still deserve clear answers about what gets collected, how long it is kept and whether law enforcement can request it.

 

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Starship’s campus exit feels like the end of a quirky era, especially for students who got used to seeing the little robots rolling around campus. But this shift also tells us something bigger about where autonomous delivery is going. The next battle will happen on city sidewalks, not college campuses. If these robots save money and reduce short car trips, they could become very useful. But if they crowd walkways or create safety headaches, people will push back hard. To me, the real test is pretty clear. Robot delivery needs to work for everyone on the sidewalk, including people who never ordered anything.

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Would you be ok with a delivery robot on your block, or would you rather keep your sidewalks robot-free? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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