Apple Store Accused by California Woman of Losing Her MacBook, Only to Be Found Two Weeks Later

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 08 July 2021, 05:07 pm

The Apple Store in Modesto, California, was accused by a woman of losing her MacBook that she uses for work. The incident has reminded users that it is important to back up their passwords.

Apple Store Accused of Losing MacBook

Corina Fezi from Modesto, California, told AppleInsider that she had to get the screen of her MacBook repaired, so she dropped it off at their local Apple Store. She was supposed to pick it up on June 23.

However, Fezi stated that when the day came, no one could give her the MacBook back. According to her, her local Apple Store lost her MacBook.

Fezi told CBS Sacramento that she called Apple support numerous times and no one could give her a tracking number and that nobody knows where her MacBook is. She claimed that no one could give her any information about the incident.

Also Read: Fitbit disappears from online Apple store following HealthKit snub

Fezi claimed that her job was on the line because the MacBook contained passwords that she failed to back up before taking it in for repair.

CBS Sacramento reached out to Apple regarding the issue, who then responded that Felize already received her MacBook as of July 8. Apple said that it reached out to the customer, and they have achieved a mutual resolution.

Cases like this serve as a reminder that users must back up passwords. Fortunately, Apple's iCloud Keychain syncs passwords with all devices that have the same Apple ID, so Apple users won't have to go through numerous passwords.

Apple's Password Security

Aside from backing up passwords, it is also important to ensure that whatever password manager you are using is storing your password security.

A rash of iPhone thefts in Brazil has warned users to make sure their passwords are stored in secured locations.

In June, reports surfaced about numerous iPhone thefts in Brazil that date back to 2020. Instead of flogging the phone for some quick cash, the thieves found a more lucrative payout using the iPhones to gain unauthorized access to the victims' bank accounts.

Sao Paulo authorities arrested members of a gang that is said to specialize in breaching iPhones and access bank accounts, according to iMore.

According to Folha de Sao Paulo, unlike the government data-gathering operations or the other types of hacks that need expensive equipment and software, all that was needed was a SIM card removal tool.

According to Police Chief Fabiano Barbeiro, the thieves will take the SIM out of a victim's iPhone, place it in an unlocked device, and search for linked accounts on social media networks like Instagram or Facebook.

Once an account connected to the phone line is found, the thieves will then search for an associated email address, usually paired to a user's Apple ID.

Using the email account and phone number, the thieves would reset the Apple ID password on the unlocked iPhone, download system backup information from iCloud, and search the password. In most cases, the victims would store passwords, account numbers, and other information in plain text.

After gathering the information needed, the SIM card is swapped back to the original iPhone. Another gang member would then access bank accounts and uses them to transfer the money illegally.