
As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, in April this year (exactly 5 months ago) my MacBook Pro was stolen when I was traveling overseas. 2 days ago it was returned to me.
I’ve also mentioned that I have activated an iCloud request to find the MacBook, lock it and display a message “Return for big reward. No police”
Now, today I finally saw this message on the machine:
After the code was entered, the machine erased itself (which I also requested 3 months ago).
In my mail I’ve received notifications:
Also a system message popped up:
Now, why it’s curious?
Well:
- Once the MacBook was stolen, obviously it was erased (drive was encrypted)
- When I received it back, it was running Maverick OSx, which was not installed at the time of theft (at that point it was running on Mountain Lion OSx).
- After I got the machine back – I did a few things:
- Wiped the drive
- Installed Mountain Lion
- Upgraded to Maverick
- Upgraded to Yosemite beta
- Wiped it again
- Restored to Yosemite beta
- Wiped again
- Restored to Mountain Lion
- Upgraded to Maverick (On a next day after this installation the “computer found” trigger set off)
- Why was the process not triggered before?
- Why was the mac used for 5 months without any issues nor was it’s location reported?
It seems that the current Apple’s procedure is quite ineffective: if your computer was taken – someone has to sign in as a user AS WELL with your iCloud credentials (it still is not quite certain as above actions Ive completed as I was signed in my account). Unless this takes place (which, I think you would agree is highly unlikely unless you have your passwords on a post-it sticker attached to your screen), no tracking/erase will take place.
And some notes on a side:
- The erase notification arrived before notification that the MacBook was found.
- Even after I’ve entered the correct recovery code, the erase took place
- Why is the location view offered to be displayed on Google, not Apple maps?