Apple Announces 'Kill Switch' as Law Enforcers Seek Fix for Phone Thefts

KQED ^ | 12 June 2013 | KQED

[Theoria]

When thieves steal an iPhone, it's referred to as "Apple picking."

Apple's latest idea to deter such thefts is a feature called "activation lock." The company says it’ll be arming new iPhones -- and all its mobile devices -- with a kind of kill switch that can render a lost or stolen phone inoperable.

The announcement comes shortly before San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, along with New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, is scheduled to meet with officials from several cellphone companies about how to prevent the growing number of smartphone thefts.

Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, announced activation lock at a software designers conference Monday.

"With activation lock, if a thief tries to turn off 'Find my iPhone', or if they even wipe the device entirely, they will not be able to reactivate it because they don’t know your iCloud username and password," says Federighi. "We think this is going to be a very powerful theft deterrent.”

That’s welcome news to iPhone owners who were recently shopping at the Apple store in West Berkeley.

“I had a phone stolen and it wasn’t locked, so whoever took the phone got all my contacts,” says Sisel Cardell.

Another shopper, recent high school graduate Adrienne Ramsey, says, "I think that is the coolest thing ever because, if somebody steals your phone, they can steal all your information, like your credit card info and your emails. So for you to deactivate that, can basically kind of save your life.”

The change could also have a major impact on law enforcement agencies. San Francisco police has said about half of robberies reported are of mobile devices.

[BubbaBasher]

I want something that makes my phone appear to be bricked now that cops in some states can search your phone when they pull you over.

[mc5cents]

I’d rather see an embeded explosive device that could be remotely activated by the phone’s owner........

:-) heehee

[mc5cents]

I’d rather see an embeded explosive device that could be remotely activated by the phone’s owner........

Or this

[John O]

I don’t understand this. How could a phone be stolen. It’s either held firmly in your hand or placed firmly in your pocket. Surely there aren’t that many break-ins where robbers can get to your phone!

[Hot Tabasco]

How could a phone be stolen. It’s either held firmly in your hand or placed firmly in your pocket

Taken from your car

Taken out of your gym locker

Dropped on a bathroom floor

In a purse that was snatched

Left on a restaurant table

And probably thousands of other ways to lose it........It doesn't have to be "stolen"

[Squawk 8888]

Took them long enough. I’ve had a free Android app for a couple of years now that does the same thing. I can go online and lock it, make it screech, and see where it is.

[a fool in paradise]

Maybe they could do this for keychains, sunglasses, and other lost items...

[Squawk 8888]

That’s an old Mossad trick.

[Theoria]

‘Youths’ will gang up on someone in a bus or subway and simply take the phone.

[John O]

I can see this one. The onther ones mentioend make no sense to me. Who lays their phone donw on a restaurant table where otehrs could take it? Not I. It's either firmly in my hand or in it's holster. Otherwise it is under lock and key (say in the gym or in the car etc). I find it amazing that people can be so careless with devices that cost hundreds of dollars.

(Of course I tend to be fiscally conservative and am still using my razor 4 from several years ago. (Still works great!) but even that old phone is under tight physical security.)