Thieves are increasingly going after iPhone and other “smart phones” but victims now can fight back with technology. One device allow a user to remotely activate a loud siren designed to rattle the thief. Another application, designed for iPhones, can reveal the phone’s location. New technology helps owners of expensive gadgets to get them back after they are lost or stolen. The Find My iPhone feature from Apple, which declined to comment for this report, enables users to determine the phone’s location and erase the data on it, among other things.
A Chicago blogger who tried the feature after his iPhone disappeared tracked the phone’s movements from a friend’s computer. According to his post at happywaffle.livejournal.com/5890.html, he got his phone back – and a handshake from the surprised culprit. “You’re lucky you didn’t get shot in the face,” read one comment on the blog. Indian company Maverick Mobile Solutions’ system allows victims of theft to activate a siren and send a text message to the phone – perhaps to offer a deal to get the phone back. Fear of a gadget-related crime wave is not new. In 2005, as Apple’s signature white earphones were becoming ubiquitous in US cities, the New York Police Department reported an increase in subway crime linked to iPod thefts. Before that, victims were targeted fro their expensive sneakers.
But hand phone theft is a particular concern because of the risk of identity theft, said City Councilman Peter Vallone. “It’s bad enough losing your phone and that’s all it was a few years ago,” Mr Vallone said. “Nowadays, if you lose your phone, you can very quickly lose your identity.” Many iPhone users agree that, given the amount of personal data stored on phones, losing one could be devastating. “The damage would be extensive,” said Mr Joshua Deutch, 32, a freelance IT consultant. He said he would “not think twice” before wiping data – including bank account numbers and multiple passwords – if someone stole his iPhone. But he said pursuing a thief would be going too far. “Obviously, there’s some excitement with that but I have insurance.” After data has been wiped clean, the iPhone is “just a brick”, he said.
Via Reuters