What will Apple’s new iPhone anti-theft feature do if it detects theft? What signals and technologies can be used to detect iPhone theft? How will this new security system be different and better than iOS 17.3’s ‘Stolen Device Protection’ feature?
Imagine, what would happen if your iPhone is unlocked and then someone snatches it and runs away? In a matter of seconds, a thief can access your messages, banking apps, passwords and even the phone’s tracking features. But now Apple is working on a new security feature, which will immediately lock the iPhone as soon as theft is detected.
According to a report by 9to5Mac, this feature is being made especially for those thefts where the phone is stolen in unlocked condition. Although Apple already has anti-theft features like ‘Find My’, ‘Activation Lock’ and ‘Stolen Device Protection’, but if the phone is unlocked at the time of theft, then these are no longer as effective.
This new feature will solve this problem by taking action within the first few seconds of theft. Its concept is somewhat similar to what Apple uses to demo iPhones in its retail stores. If someone tries to run away with a demo phone from the store, it gets immediately locked or deactivated. However, this new feature has been designed keeping in mind the theft of personal devices of common people.
How will this anti-theft feature work?
According to the report, Apple’s technology will use various types of signals to detect theft. The most important thing in this could be the iPhone’s accelerometer, which can detect sudden and strange movements of the phone. As soon as the phone senses a movement like being snatched from someone’s hand, it can lock immediately.
Additionally, the system will also measure the distance between the iPhone and its connected Apple Watch. If the phone suddenly and rapidly starts moving away from the Watch, Apple may also consider this a sign of theft. Additionally, the iPhone will also check if the iPhone is in a known location, such as home or office, or connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network. If the phone is stolen in an unknown location, it can further restrict access to critical parts of the system.
The report states that this feature will be an extension of Apple’s ‘Stolen Device Protection’, which was launched with iOS 17.3. Currently, the feature adds additional biometric checks and security delays for tasks like changing passwords or accessing saved credentials when the iPhone is away from known locations. But despite these security measures, user data remains at risk in the initial moments of a theft.
It is important to note here that Apple has not yet officially announced this feature nor has it told when it may arrive.