“Even if you erase your device remotely, Activation Lock can continue to deter anyone from reactivating your device without your permission.”Īnd what if you forget your password? You can reset it at My Apple ID () or by contacting Apple Support and going through the steps to verify your identity. “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. And if you want to delete all of your personal information from your missing device, you can erase it remotely.Īpple 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.

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.

If you lose your iPhone or if it is stolen, Apple advises trying to locate the device using Find My iPhone. 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. Samsung partners with Absolute Software, which sells device tracking and recovery software and services for PCs, laptops and mobile devices. “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. Gascon’s office is urging iPhone users in San Francisco to download iOS 7, and hopes that other manufacturers will follow Apple’s lead. “This is an important first step toward ending the global epidemic of smartphone theft.” “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. “It is time for corporate citizens to step up and make these phones into paperweights for those who steal them.”Īctivation Lock also has won praise from law enforcement officials. “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. He’s glad that Apple enhanced the security of the iPhone and would like to see other smartphone makers follow suit. Oakland resident Dan Jewett lost an Apple laptop when his home was burglarized. “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.

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