Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone is very popular among the people across the globe, and those who can afford buying one buy it while there is a bunch of people who cannot buy, but steal the device. However, the new feature called ‘Activation Lock’ also known as the ‘kill switch’ helped bring down the iPhone thefts significantly in three major cities.
Decline in iPhone theft
‘Activation Lock’ was implemented by the company in September 2013, and within a time period of one year significant fall in the iPhone thefts was noticed. According to city reports, in San Francisco, a 40% decline in the theft was noted, in New York a 25% decline and in London 50%.
San Francisco was plagued by the epidemic of the iPhone thefts, and the ‘kill switch’ helped check it, District Attorney of San Francisco, George Gascon told CBS San Francisco. George, further, said that the fact that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone cannot be used because of the ‘Activation Lock’ has deterred thieves from stealing those. He said that it was very important for the company to introduce such a mechanism because the users have lots of personal information saved over their devices. Medical data, banking data and other relevant stuff, which could be put to severe misuse if gotten hold by some stranger, is much safer now, said Gascon.
Kill switch makes iPhone useless for thieves
Apple introduced the iPhone 6 last year, which was the center of attraction for not only the buyers, but also the thieves. Every iPhone is the desired device of thieves, but stealing an iPhone means wastage of precious time. The thieves have understood this now, and hence they do not try doing so anymore. All Apple devices running on iOS 7 or later are being put with the Activation Lock.
The ‘kill switch’ allows Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) device owners to lock their devices in case they are lost or stolen, and the same can later be unlocked with their Apple IDs and Passwords. “Whoever steals it can’t do anything with it without this special unlock code,” explained CNET senior editor Jeff Bakalar, “It’s different than that lock screen code, this is something that completely renders the phone useless and it’s of no value to someone who steals it.”
