In their latest products, Apple is adding an “activation lock” option in iOS 7 that would prevent thieves from reactivating a stolen phone, while Samsung has partnered with Absolute Software to add a “kill switch” in the Galaxy S4.
Apple says hundreds of millions of people already use its Find My iPhone feature and noted it is taking things further by preventing unauthorized reactivation for customers that opt to do so.“Apple has led the industry in helping customers protect their lost or stolen devices since the launch of Find My iPhone in 2009 by allowing customers to remotely set a passcode or erase all their personal data,” Apple said in a statement to AllThingsD. “With Activation Lock, Find My iPhone gives customers even more control over their devices and serves as a theft deterrent by requiring an Apple ID and password to turn off Find My iPhone, erase data or re-activate a device.”Mobile security software specialist Lookout, which also took part in Thursday’s meeting,
said that better protections will not only secure protected devices but also deter overall theft of mobile devices.“To protect consumers from phone theft, we need to make it harder for the bad guys to profit from stealing phones,” Lookout founder and CTO Kevin Mahaffey said in a statement.Read full article: Apple, Samsung Take Steps to Combat Cellphone Theft but Pressed to D
