The New York City Police Department (NYPD) wants New Yorkers with iPhones to update to iOS 7 for new security features, including the Activation Lock.
The Activation Lock makes it much more difficult for a thief to turn off the “Find My iPhone” feature.
The NYPD last week started handing out fliers to passersby and customers at the Apple Store, telling them to upgrade to iOS 7, as iPhone and iPad thefts skyrocked by 40 percent in New York City.
“Should your iPhone get lost or stolen, it cannot be reprogrammed without an Apple ID and password,” website AllThingsD reported.
The Activation Lock feature forces users to enter their Apple ID and password to turn off the “Find My iPhone” feature, which will run in the background.
“With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which makes it more difficult for anyone else to use or sell your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch if you ever lose it. It starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7. With Activation Lock, your Apple ID and password will be required,” Apple explains on its website.
Apple says the feature “can help you keep your device secure, even if it is in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it.”
The “Find My iPhone” feature allows users to access via another device, including a desktop. It can also remotely lock or wipe the device clean.
“NYPD have used ‘Find My Phone’ numerous times to help locate phones that were reported stolen,” Sergeant Brendan Ryan of the NYPD Office of the Deputy Commissioner told Tom’s Guide.
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