Stolen iPhone with gun serial numbers. Do I have a problem?

[Intrepid Dad]

The "Find My iPhone" part of MobileMe used to be part of the $100 package. Fortunately they separated it out, and made it free. So you can still use the MobileMe website to view your phone's location on a map, send it a message and make it play a sound, and, yes, even wipe it remotely. If you buy an iPhone 4 from an Apple store, just tell them you want to set up the Find My iPhone app, and they'll show you what to do.

Good information. Thanks for your response. I will definately be doing this.

 

[Dogguy]

It's amusing to old farts like me that people are so dependent on electronic gadgets these days. My cell phone gets about 5 minutes use a month, I don't own a laptop and I read newspapers, books and magazines that are printed on paper and when I need to go someplace I'm not familiar with, I use a map. Having been a photographer for the past 40 years, I do shoot digitally but the pictures are made into prints for display--not for emailing or posting on the internet.

While I do enjoy using the internet for some purposes, I always feel more comfortable when I'm away from the distraction of these electronic doohickies.

 

[Intrepid Dad]

I read newspapers, books and magazines that are printed on paper

What is this paper you speak of?

As a consultant, I travel constantly. My iPhone and my Kindle are modern day wonders that make my life easier. Of course, sometimes it works out badly like when my phone is stolen with my gun serial numbers. But I won't make the same mistake again and you can be sure I'll be implementing a number of suggestions made by my fellow High Roaders.

 

[Ultra]

I feel safer storing information in my iphone with a pass code on it, and password protected in Awesome note, then I do storing it in my computer. And it's certainly safer then just keeping it in a locked filing cabinet.

 

[22-rimfire]

I travel a fair amount too. I had a smart phone for a while and just didn't like the size for what I normally did with phones. Motorola is coming out with the XOOM which is essentially a tablet computer and phone. I am going to look seriously at this new one as an option to my laptop and phone. Want to get a Kindle also for reading which I do a lot.

I use my iPhone (2G) like a lot of people use a laptop, except it fits in my pocket.

I am considering that option at the moment. It would be a big change over. Now on the road, I carry a laptop (with air card) and a couple flash drives that essentially contain all the files I might need. I keep the files pretty close and seldom even leave those little flash drives in my motel room. Yes, there are both business and personal files which contain my firearm serial numbers as well as lists of credit cards, account numbers, and 800 numbers to call if a card is lost or stolen.

I also sometimes carry a small external hard drive with all the files on it--essentially years of all my business files; it depends on the situation. I have bought more than a couple cheap ink jet printers on the road to print out reports or whatever. I do not like to depend on motels/hotels for anything very important. The laptop gives me a lot of flexibility when out in small towns where the motel may not have internet access.

 

[Intrepid Dad]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know I bought an iPhone 4 today to replace my 3G that was stolen last Sunday in Calgary. Before I left the Apple store I started implementing some of the suggestions made here.

My phone has a lock that requires a 4 digit code to unlock. I also downloaded the "Find my iPhone" app and am in the process of activating it. If I do restore my gun serial numbers I'll use one of the recommended applications such as Awesome Note or Evernote. I also plan to establish the remote wipe capability in case I ever lose my phone again and can't recover it quickly.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. And oh yeah, I'm going to get rid of those naked pictures on my phone.

Intrepdid Dad
Colorado Springs, CO

 

[2WheelsGood]

I bought an iPhone 4 today to replace my 3G

Congrats. The 4 will feel like a race car compared to the 3G.

 

[hak]

iphone

also, if your iphone was "exchange active sync'd" against Exchange 2007 or newer, you can remotely wipe it (brick it) rather easily. log into your webmail app (owa) go to Options, and look for the device heading.

i agree on the other recommendations:

1) sync anything valuable on there to a system not on the phone so you can "burn it" remotely without pause and your data stays unharmed.

2) use the startup pin # (and do check the box for "after 10 wrong attempts wipe phone") again, your data is elsewhere and you won't mess up so many timess

3) get the free find my iphone app (works on ipads too)

4) do encrypt anything "text like", check out "keepass", not a volume tool like truecrypt, but great for lots of numbers like s/n's

i have a balistics calculator on my iphone 3g and enjoy it, and it syncs my kindle books, handy for when in line at the (postoffice, store, coffee shop, etc).

anyways, most of those are "before the fact" - but the OWA wipe no one had mentioned so thought i'd add it as that provides one way to neutralize it without having had done any prep, as long as your EAS'ing (exchange active sync).

and for you old timers, why? access to data, period. s/n's is data pure and simple. with the tools done right (the encyprtion, and remote wipe) it's safer than in your safe in that a fire or thief can wipe out all of yours at once. sure, keep a 2nd copy at the safe deposit box - exactly what we're saying, but for us it's a click and a sync, not a drive down to the bank and meeting with a safety deposit box helper. anyways, not knocking your method, just saying when done right there are other methods out there.