Submitted by Fred Straker on
Buying used iPhones on eBay or Craigslist can save a lot of money. The only problem is that some sellers may not be telling the whole story. Apple has taken steps to improve security on iOS devices, including something called Activation Lock to help prevent theft. Protect yourself from buying a useless, stolen iPhone by taking a few moments to check that everything is in order.
Submitted by Fred Straker on
iPhone lost? With any luck Find My iPhone has been activated and locating the device takes only minutes. In order for this scenario to happen, Find My iPhone must be configured on the iOS device with an Apple ID and iCloud account. The process is simple, and can save many headaches over a lost iPhone.
Besides the free iOS app Find My iPhone, an iOS device can be tracked using a web browser on a computer. This means that a lost iOS device can be found from virtually anywhere with just iCloud login credentials. So how to setup and use Find My iPhone?
Submitted by Marshall Walker on
AT&T will launch a new service to deny voice, data and SMS access on stolen or lost iPhones starting Tuesday. According to an internal AT&T email obtained by The Verge, the carrier will compile a "blocklist" of stolen devices to help cut down on mobile phone theft.
The email sent to customer service representatives says the new security measure will begin on July 10th. It also states that customers "can now request the stolen device be blocked from use by others on the AT&T network", and that the line will be "automatically suspended if any attempt is made to use a device." Users will have to contact a customer service rep directly to add a device to the list. Customers with remote data wipe apps will also be required to activate them to restrict access to personal data.
Submitted by Marshall Walker on
An Apple patent application highlighted some new and interesting security features that could be utilized with the Find My iPhone service in the future. The application entitled “Proactive Security for Mobile Devices” lists several countermeasures to protect your phone and the information stored on it.
A lost or stolen mobile device can increase its own security level if incorrect passwords are entered, or if a user remotely activates the security features. Owners can choose to protect certain files instead of locking the entire phone, and sensitive data can be scrambled instead of wiped, then re-accessed after the phone is retrieved. Users can even utilize a surveillance mode where the device can record voices or its surroundings to help identify a thief or the device's location.
Submitted by Bob Bhatnagar on
You may have heard that Apple now offers the Find My iPhone service for free to iPhone 4 owners who have installed the iOS 4.2 update. When set up properly, the service locates and even sends messages to the lost device. Find My iPhone can also remotely lock or erase your iPhone.
Setting up the service no longer requires a paid MobileMe subscription with Apple to use. To set up Find My iPhone on your device follow these instructions.
