Originally published at: https://tidbits.com/2019/02/08/the-lengths-thieves-will-go-to-unlock-iphones/
Apple’s Activation Lock feature has helped discourage iPhone thefts by preventing an iPhone from being activated while it’s registered to an iCloud account, but thieves are finding clever ways to work around this requirement.
While I get that thieves might try to mug you, and demand you remove Find My iPhone and log out, working at a computer store in customer support, I would say that a vast number of our customers have no idea what their Apple ID password is. I wonder what happens to them when held at knife point? 
Bad stuff, I fear. I am a little surprised that people can be completely ignorant of their Apple ID password since iOS and macOS ask for them fairly frequently. But maybe that’s just my usage patterns.
Unless they’re family members that depend on one certain other family member to always remember the password for them when they need it.
Indeed, though that’s a little like not being able to unlock your front door without help. I’m sure it happens, but it’s a recipe for trouble at some point in the future.
I have no idea what my Apple ID password is because it’s generated by 1Password and stored there on all devices. I do know my 1Password password, and I have touch ID set up so I don’t have to type it in, and a mugging to unlock that would be unfortunate to say the least. Is this a flaw in the use of a password manager?
But really, what are the chances of an outright robbery vs just loosing your phone somewhere?
“Unfortunately, Activation Lock’s major liability is simply human error: enough people lock themselves out of their iCloud accounts that there has to be a way to disable it.”
And a locked door’s major liability is that you left your keys inside and absentmindedly flipped the handle lock (or your spouse did!). That’s why people often have a spare key in an undisclosed external location.
Jack Clay