Hunting for used hand-carried iPhones at a price several hundred to several million VND cheaper than the market is chosen by many users, especially young people. However, behind the seemingly new devices is a big hidden risk called iCloud, a digital trap that can cause users to lose their devices after just one recovery.
iCloud Hiding: Tricks are not new but many people are still trapped
Unlike a public iCloud account that users can log in to, an hidden iCloud is an Apple ID account that is still secretly enabled in the system, even though the device appears to be working normally.
Only when users restore the original installation or reset the device, will the system require log-in with the original account, something that buyers do not have at all.
If the machine is "broken", no one can help
When the iPhone is unlocked, iCloud is almost un lockable. Apple designed this feature to be anti-theft, so even a genuine technician cannot open it without the original Apple ID. Buying a hand-carried device without carefully checking it is a huge risk.
There are many forms of "circumventing the law" on the market such as bypass iCloud, using temporary activation tools, but most of them are illegal, with the potential risk of disabling or leaking user data.
How to recognize and prevent
To limit risks, users need to:
- ask the seller to summarize Find My iPhone and log in front of you.
- Go to Settings > Chung > Reset > Delete all content and install, check if the device requires entering the old account.
- Do not buy a device at an "unusually cheap" price from an unknown source, especially on social networks.
- Priority is given to genuine VN/A machines or international machines with original boxes and clear documents.
In the digital age, account security is no less important than hardware. An unknowingly made shopping decision can cost you not only money but also access to your own phone.
