Apple May Soon Add a Feature That Automatically Locks Snatched iPhones

Apple May Soon Add a Feature That Automatically Locks Snatched iPhones | PCMag

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If you're worried about iPhone theft, Apple is reportedly working on a new feature that automatically locks the device when a snatch is detected. While Apple has yet to confirm the feature, 9to5Mac reports that references in iOS code suggest it is under active development.Apple already offers security features like Find My, Lost Mode, Activation Lock, and Stolen Device Protection. However, many of these features may not work as intended if the iPhone is snatched while it is unlocked.Apple will consider several signals before locking a phone, including those from the phone’s accelerometer, which measures its movement, vibrations, and sudden shocks. It will also check the phone’s distance from a paired Apple Watch, connected Wi-Fi, location, and others. You May Also Like

Once these conditions indicate the phone has been snatched, the device will lock itself and also restrict access to biometric and Apple Account changes. It’s unclear when Apple will launch the feature, but 9to5Mac expects it to arrive sooner rather than later. Android phones have had a similar feature, called Theft Detection Lock, since 2024.The report arrives days after The New York Times reported phone thefts in London, where 71,000 phones were reported stolen last year. Some of the victims are now being blackmailed into sharing their Apple ID credentials, which the thieves need to factory reset and resell the phones. In one case, the victim’s Lost Mode contact received a threat that the stolen phone, along with all of its data, would be auctioned on the black market unless they played along. Recommended by Our Editors iOS 27 May Finally Add Native Support for Google Cast, But There's a Catch In iOS 27, Siri App Will Reportedly Allow Automatic Chat Deletion for Privacy Apple Expands This Location-Focused Privacy Feature to More Users

“We will continue to work tirelessly to reduce the incentives for stealing Apple devices,” Apple told the Times.

About Our Expert Jibin Joseph Contributor Experience Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience. Latest By Jibin Joseph DuckDuckGo Sees Surge in Installs After Google Goes All-In on AI Search at I/O Sennheiser Momentum 5 Brings Better ANC, Replaceable Battery Got a Backlog of Long-Form Articles? Spotify Can Now Read Them Aloud iOS 27 May Finally Add Native Support for Google Cast, But There's a Catch New watchOS 27 Rumor Tips Better Heart-Rate Tracking, Delayed AI Health Coach More from Jibin Joseph Read Full Bio

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