The theft of iPhones and iPads is so widespread it’s known as “Apple (AAPL) Picking.”
But Apple devices aren’t the only targets. Nearly one in three robberies nationwide involves the theft of a mobile phone, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The problem is so severe in their cities that San Francisco District Attorney George Gasc n and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman this summer convened a “smartphone summit” to urge the smartphone industry to implement technological solutions to thwart the robberies.
Now some makers of wireless mobile devices, notably Apple and Samsung, are taking steps to fight back against the thieves.
Apple’s new iOS 7 mobile operating system, includes a security feature called Activation Lock that automatically works with the free Find My iPhone feature. Find My iPhone is built into iOS 7 and can be enabled in Settings.
Activation Lock basically ties your devices to your Apple ID. Criminals who steal phones typically “wipe” the devices clean so they can resell them. Now any thief who wants to turn off Find My iPhone, erase the device or reset the device will be required to enter the Apple ID and password.
Supporters of such security measures say they will discourage thieves from stealing phones because they will not be able to sell them.
Alex Castro, who lives in Oakland, started spreading the word about Activation Lock as a community service as soon as it came out in October.
“A friend’s cousin was killed for her iPhone in St. Louis,” said Castro, 39. “My goal is to educate others. I had no idea that there was such a black market for smartphones.”
Castro notes that Activation Lock won’t stop someone from robbing you for your phone. But it will discourage thefts, he says, by making stolen phones “nearly worthless.”
“This has the potential to decimate the market for stolen iPhones, and if there is no demand, then there will be no reason for criminals to mug people for their iPhone,” he wrote in Oakland Local, a popular community blog.
Oakland resident Dan Jewett lost an Apple laptop when his home was burglarized. He’s glad that Apple enhanced the security of the iPhone and would like to see other smartphone makers follow suit.
“We all carry so much personal info on our phone these days, and you don’t want that in a criminal’s hands,” said Jewett. “It is time for corporate citizens to step up and make these phones into paperweights for those who steal them.”
Activation Lock also has won praise from law enforcement officials.
“We are pleased that Apple released a mobile operating system that includes a theft deterrent feature called Activation Lock,” San Francisco DA Gascon said in a statement. “This is an important first step toward ending the global epidemic of smartphone theft.”
Gascon’s office is urging iPhone users in San Francisco to download iOS 7, and hopes that other manufacturers will follow Apple’s lead.
“iPhones are not the only devices targeted, which is why we continue to pressure the other leading manufacturers of smartphones to quickly implement effective theft deterrents that protect their customers from violent crime,” he said.
Samsung partners with Absolute Software, which sells device tracking and recovery software and services for PCs, laptops and mobile devices. Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone includes Absolute software that allows owners to remotely delete files and lock down the stolen device, rendering it useless to thieves.
If you lose your iPhone or if it is stolen, Apple advises trying to locate the device using Find My iPhone. You can also put the device in “Lost Mode,” and keep track of its location and indicate to anyone who comes across it that the device has been lost or stolen. And if you want to delete all of your personal information from your missing device, you can erase it remotely.
Apple says that because Activation Lock requires an Apple ID and password to turn off Find My iPhone, the chances of getting a lost or stolen phone back are improved because the layer of security may cause “finders keepers” to think twice. “This can help you keep your device secure, even if it is in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it,” Apple says on its website. “Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission.”
And what if you forget your password? You can reset it at My Apple ID (appleid.apple.com) or by contacting Apple Support and going through the steps to verify your identity.
In late September, robbers targeted commuters standing in a casual carpool line in Oakland’s affluent Rockridge neighborhood, snatching smartphones and other valuables at gunpoint. The brazen robbery, which happened before 9 a.m., shook a city already struggling with one of the nation’s highest robbery rates.
While installing Activation Lock should help reduce such incidents, police officers warn that people need to be more aware of their surroundings. If you’re walking alone and using a smartphone, you could become the victim of a crime.
“There’s a black market for stolen phones,” said Sgt. Arturo Bautista, a public information officer for the Oakland Police Department. “If you don’t have to use your phone in public, don’t use it. Wait until you get to a safe place.”
Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull.
What to do if your apple device goes missing:
If you misplace your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, the Find My iPhone feature will let you use another device with an Apple iOS operating system to find it and protect your data. Activate Find My iPhone on the other Apple device if it’s running iOS 7 — or install the free Find My iPhone app if the device is running an earlier version of iOS. Then open it and sign in with the Apple ID you use for iCloud. Find My iPhone will help you locate your missing device on a map, remotely lock it, or erase all the data on it.
Source: http://www.apple.com/icloud/find-my-iphone.html
APPLE’S ACTIVATION LOCK
Apple’s recently released iOS 7 mobile operating system includes a new security feature called Activation Lock, which works with the Find My iPhone feature to make it more difficult for anyone to use or sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch once it’s gone missing or has been stolen. To turn off Find My iPhone or erase the device for resale, a thief would need your Apple ID and password. The Find My iPhone feature is built into iOS 7, but you must enable it on your device for Activation Lock to work. To activate the Find My iPhone on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch:
1
Go to Settings
2
Tap iCloud
3
Sign in with your Apple ID
4
Turn on Find My iPhone
Activation Lock starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7.
Source: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
San Jose Mercury News (CA)
(c)2013 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)
