1234. 1111. 0000. When it comes to 4-digit unlock codes, most people fall back on the same patterns/ideas that everyone else uses. “Boy! I sure hope the big bad hacker folks don’t think to punch in my Birthday!”
Alpha-numeric passwords (that is, passwords with both letters and numbers) are inherently more secure. More possibilities means more security, right? Alas, the iPhone only supports 4-digit codes — out of the box, at least. A few clever gents have figured out an incredibly simple modification that gives you access to the full keyboard for your lockdown duties, no jailbreak required.
Full credit for the discovery of this modification goes to the dudes at 9to5mac
How to do it:
- Open Safari on your iPhone
- Either come to this page and click this link (on your iPhone/iTouch), or manually type in: http://9to5mac.com/9to5mac.mobileconfig
- Install the profile.
- If you’ve got a 4-digit code in place, it will ask you to type it in before you enter the new password
- Type the new password. Type again to confirm.
- You’re done!
Doesn’t get much easier than that, right? To uninstall the modification and go back to the standard, 4-digit system, just head to Settings > General > Profiles and uninstall the “9to5mac” profile.
Warning: Alphanumeric passwords are more secure, but they can also be harder to remember. Don’t forget your password – if you do, you’re going to have to dump everything off your iPhone before you can get back in. Don’t blame us for your bad memory, you hear?
Or, …just use Apple’s iPhone Configuration Utility to do this like the rest of have been doing since the utility was released…duh
“The rest”? I’m pretty sure that diving into enterprise features isn’t something that the vast majority do.
bit.ly/alphanum for those of us that can’t be bothered to type very much
btw is there any way of undoing the passcode lock from my iPhone (or mac)
As in removing it and going back to the 4-digit system? Yeah. Just remove the 9to5mac profile.
Iphone is just like a computer. Good way to protect.
Actually, the credit goes to the NSA long long before 9to5mac thought they were introducing something cool.
Using the following link, view the NSA “Security Tips for Personally Managed iPhones” pamphlet online. Pay particular attention to the section “Consider the iPhone Configuration Utility.”
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:ezn3QyOCQQcJ:www.nsa.gov/ia/_files/factsheets/I731-FS-017-2009.pdf+iphone+security,+nsa&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
ive found a bug: the alarm doesn’t work if the iPod touch îs locked with this
anyways, too bad you’ve gotta have a number too…
Thanks for this lock! I been trying to figure out for the longest how the fucc I could get a longer lock code!! My BF has blackberry & he’s always locking me out of his phone w/ his long codes. But he always breaks into my phone due to my 4digit being so easy to crack! But now I have a long code that even I can’t crack!! Lol jk but thanks! :)
i forgot my alphanumeric password and can’t use my Iphone. What can i do?