And then there's stuff like that in other parts of the world where pickpocketing might not be as common. Although that's probably not as common as typical pickpocketing is in many other parts of the world.
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New York Mulls New Anti-Theft Measures as Smartphone Thefts Continue to Surge
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While there's a market for those parts, it's a fairly small market - not nearly large enough to absorb all of the iPhones that are stolen today and sold to unsuspecting consumers on CL.
WRT Samsung's kill switch, my understanding is that they are not selling an iPhone style activation lock that is a feature of the phone itself, but a $30 annual subscription to their kill-switch service.
So I can kind of see how carriers would object to this but would not object to a kill-switch feature that was part of the phone. I also think that Samsung deserves blame for trying to screw consumers in this way.
Even as an iPhone user, the more smartphones with kill switches, the better. I don't want to have to rely on thieves knowing which phones can't be activated; I want so many phones to be useless if stolen that they don't even bother trying.
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Umm, you do understand that those shows are *fiction*? That they don't reflect reality?
While there are a few organized groups, the *vast* majority of thefts are committed by people with low impulse control who just see something that they can take, grab it, and run. And then try to sell it on CL, or give it to someone else to sell.
Fictional crime shows need some sort of puzzle or mystery to solve, so they use these kinds of plots, but what you see on "Cops" is much, much more common.
This is all about critical mass. In a year this story is going to be very different. In 2 years even more so as Apple surely has more theft deterrent systems/layers to be released.
The real question is how big is the market for stealing iPhones for parts? And if it's not that big now, perhaps it will grow due to virtually all iPhones becoming bricks.
Also, what's the deal with not being able to block IEMI numbers in the U.S.? There's not a central database? Why can't stolen IEMI's simply be reported to each carrier individually? Much like in the music instrument retail biz, big chains work with local law enforcement to hinder the resale of stolen music gear using lists of serial #s and police reports. You can't even buy used gear until it clears a two week check with local PD. Local police departments could just send out a list that all carriers receive. Those numbers get blacklisted.
But again, with activation lock saturating the iPhone user base, this won't really matter anymore.
- Use activation lock
- Use a password and TouchID
- Use Find My iPhone
- Be very careful with your phone on public transport, especially if you live in a major city.
- Be careful having iPhones out on tables at sidewalk cafes/coffeeshops.
If I'm on the London Tube, New York Subway, or L.A. Subway/Light Rail, iOS devices remain out of sight. I will admit I'm a bit more relaxed about this in L.A. using the light rail or Amtrak. New York or London? Hell no.
This or something similar resurfacing in the U.S. within the next decade wouldn't surprise me at all.
I half joke about this often, but I wouldn't mind seeing this happen to scammers and identity thieves.
The real question is how big is the market for stealing iPhones for parts? And if it's not that big now, perhaps it will grow due to virtually all iPhones becoming bricks.
Also, what's the deal with not being able to block IEMI numbers in the U.S.? There's not a central database? Why can't stolen IEMI's simply be reported to each carrier individually? Much like in the music instrument retail biz, big chains work with local law enforcement to hinder the resale of stolen music gear using lists of serial #s and police reports. You can't even buy used gear until it clears a two week check with local PD. Local police departments could just send out a list that all carriers receive. Those numbers get blacklisted.
But again, with activation lock saturating the iPhone user base, this won't really matter anymore.
- Use activation lock
- Use a password and TouchID
- Use Find My iPhone
- Be very careful with your phone on public transport, especially if you live in a major city.
- Be careful having iPhones out on tables at sidewalk cafes/coffeeshops.
If I'm on the London Tube, New York Subway, or L.A. Subway/Light Rail, iOS devices remain out of sight. I will admit I'm a bit more relaxed about this in L.A. using the light rail or Amtrak. New York or London? Hell no.
This or something similar resurfacing in the U.S. within the next decade wouldn't surprise me at all.
I half joke about this often, but I wouldn't mind seeing this happen to scammers and identity thieves.
I got it!
I'm thinking an iPhone case made out of DetCord. Someone grabs your phone you press a button on your secret decoder ring or (iwatch) and ruin their day.
As a slightly less violent, but not nearly as much fun or bloody. A 2 or 3 watt resister that fries the phone. Resisters can hold a charge for a while. So They grab the phone. I bet I can press that button on my secret decoder ring before they can get it to power off while running. They end up with a smoldering pile of goo.
A Case filled with Bank INK that sprays them in the face? "I know what you did last night cause you are GREEN"
A Case filled with Pepper Spray that sprays them in the face? "I know what you did last night cause you are crying like a little girl"
Nah, I like the DETCORD. Makes a wicked noise too.
Come on my droogs... we need a bit of the old ultra-violence.
I'm thinking an iPhone case made out of DetCord. Someone grabs your phone you press a button on your secret decoder ring or (iwatch) and ruin their day.
As a slightly less violent, but not nearly as much fun or bloody. A 2 or 3 watt resister that fries the phone. Resisters can hold a charge for a while. So They grab the phone. I bet I can press that button on my secret decoder ring before they can get it to power off while running. They end up with a smoldering pile of goo.
A Case filled with Bank INK that sprays them in the face? "I know what you did last night cause you are GREEN"
A Case filled with Pepper Spray that sprays them in the face? "I know what you did last night cause you are crying like a little girl"
Nah, I like the DETCORD. Makes a wicked noise too.
Come on my droogs... we need a bit of the old ultra-violence.
not like the police would care. they actually would get a laugh out of the tourist not taking care of their things. "please fill out an report" ... after you finally passed the queue at the police station. Spain is still nice
you just have to watch out for your things. its almost fun surving without getting robbed the problem is that locals dont really want to help cuz they would be the ones in trouble if the thief gets injured during a fight while the thief would walk free after 2 hours anyway
the first time i got pick pocketed i was actually amazed. i had no idea she had her hands in my pocket and grabbed it. i never believed it was actually as easy as in those hollywood movies
True Dat! - See my post below about more effective measures.
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The best way to get me to jump ship is to charge me $30 for that subscription. I'd be sportin an iPhone quicker than they can blink!
Hence why they need to start cracking down on ebay where people don't hesitate to list activation-locked iPhones.
Hate to tell ya this... Iv been to China a bunch of times. My phones aways worked just fine. in fact I got better signal there then here.
Korea, different story, but you didn't mention them.
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My apple store in Minneapolis will NOT unlock a phone if you cannot provide the apple id it is registered with. They got tired of the cabbies coming in day after day with the same sob story.
But did you get repaid for a new phone?
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"According to the New York Daily News, police believe such a measure would make it easier to search for stolen smartphones, Apple products, and other items, though pawn shop owners have opposed the bill, declaring it an invasion of customer privacy."
That's such a lame excuse.
problem is that most thugs who steal phones don't know about the new IOS 7 feature, and the pawns/fences haven't dropped the hammer yet.
IT also doesn't help that most folks are so engrossed in their game du jour, they don't see the sketchy crackhead sneaking up on them. Or not sneaking, since you can't hear anything with your ears full of earbuds.
I actually switched to over the ear, non-valuable looking headphones so I can hear who is sneaking up on me. Or more the case, swerving up on me.
Fricking SF drivers.
IT also doesn't help that most folks are so engrossed in their game du jour, they don't see the sketchy crackhead sneaking up on them. Or not sneaking, since you can't hear anything with your ears full of earbuds.
I actually switched to over the ear, non-valuable looking headphones so I can hear who is sneaking up on me. Or more the case, swerving up on me.
Fricking SF drivers.
Most US carriers are CDMA, not GSM. AT&T and T-Mobile are the exceptions.
(Although many modern phones support both.)
People Suck.
I was sitting at my favorite watering hole a few weeks ago. The guy that had been sitting next to me at the bar went out to smoke and came back in a few minutes later. He sat down, looked at me and said, "someone just stole my phone."
I was like dude someone snatched your phone? "No", he said.
Apparently some guy rolled up in a car claiming to be lost and asked if he could use his phone. The idiot said sure and handed it to him.... Guess what? The guy drove off.
Everyone at the end of the bar just broke out laughing at this poor idiot who handed a stranger in a car his $600 phone. I guess he learned his lesson.
The same night a girl walked up to me asking if she could use my phone. I told her I didn't have a phone. She looked insulted. She said, "YOU DONT HAVE A PHONE?" Looking almost insulted. I looked insulted right back at her and said :Why should I have one, you don't?" She walked away looking for another mark.
I was sitting at my favorite watering hole a few weeks ago. The guy that had been sitting next to me at the bar went out to smoke and came back in a few minutes later. He sat down, looked at me and said, "someone just stole my phone."
I was like dude someone snatched your phone? "No", he said.
Apparently some guy rolled up in a car claiming to be lost and asked if he could use his phone. The idiot said sure and handed it to him.... Guess what? The guy drove off.
Everyone at the end of the bar just broke out laughing at this poor idiot who handed a stranger in a car his $600 phone. I guess he learned his lesson.
The same night a girl walked up to me asking if she could use my phone. I told her I didn't have a phone. She looked insulted. She said, "YOU DONT HAVE A PHONE?" Looking almost insulted. I looked insulted right back at her and said :Why should I have one, you don't?" She walked away looking for another mark.
Activation Lock is a good idea but I'm guessing it could be easily bypassed with DFU mode... no?
p.s. Edit... sorry... I see someone else already discussed this earlier in the thread. So no way around it eh? Well... that's a good thing... if true!
p.s. Edit... sorry... I see someone else already discussed this earlier in the thread. So no way around it eh? Well... that's a good thing... if true!
Others have pointed out too but why doesn't Apple allows users to protect the power off function with the passcode? It'll prevent the thief from disabling the Find My iPhone feature right away by turning the phone off.
really, even if you have find my iphone turned on and it has passcode key locked?
After I heard about a few cases of lobbying, one including a toilet paper tube (not the paper itself) lobby group pushing for war in Iraq in 1991 because the demand for their tubes would rise, I have no problem believing that some business owners are totally heartless.
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Step one is to stop treating criminals like they're saints and nobles.
Can't a thief open the phone and remove the battery and resettle memory. If the phone can be opened all bets are off.
Also he could simply sell the phone for parts. Lots of iPhones with broken screens.
Let's apply the same sort of underworld, criminalistic thinking to white collar crime ... like CFO's to cook the books get caught red-handed, or to CEO's who are elected into such a role with a huge incentive to sell the company because if their jobs are lost in such a deal as a reason to the deal, their compensated immensely, ahem Thorstein Hines and executive staff of BB (thus far no purchase was done, but he and a director still walked with large sums of cash - bonus was not earned as the fiscal year was not completed, along with Salary paid in full and not fully earned.)
Give the harder workers what they deserve for their hard and smart work day in and day out to their salaries from the bottom to the top of the worker chain ... this can reduce thefts to begin with. Doesn't matter if its No Frills or Radio Shack or Target if the stock room worker gets even a $5K/yr or 7K/yr raise I'll bet more stock does NOT go missing per store
The only anti-theft deterrent that is valid is in the way one handles their phone in public. All of the rest only give the user peace of mind that they can put a wall up against information theft.
There are many different varieties of thieves and for most of them the existence of any system locks or stringent laws aimed at legitimate pawn shops never enter their minds when they go out to work their 8 hour day stealing phones. These measures all affect the phone owner's mind but have zilch effect on those who take them. If they steal 10 and 5 have been bricked it's still a good day, and they'll get up at 7 and do it again tomorrow.
There are many different varieties of thieves and for most of them the existence of any system locks or stringent laws aimed at legitimate pawn shops never enter their minds when they go out to work their 8 hour day stealing phones. These measures all affect the phone owner's mind but have zilch effect on those who take them. If they steal 10 and 5 have been bricked it's still a good day, and they'll get up at 7 and do it again tomorrow.
3 things that needs to happen now to stop this nonsense.
1) Apple should require touch ID or passcode to power off the iPhone.
2) Ebay needs to ban "bad ESN" and "parts only" sale of phones.
3) Siri should harass the theft with profanity every minute when she detects the owner is not present.
1) Apple should require touch ID or passcode to power off the iPhone.
2) Ebay needs to ban "bad ESN" and "parts only" sale of phones.
3) Siri should harass the theft with profanity every minute when she detects the owner is not present.
If you really want to make sure "Find My iPhone" works after your phone is stolen, you need to prevent the thief from turning your iPhone off.
1. Fill in your SIM slot with superglue, so they can't pop it out.
2. Fill in the screws with superglue, so they can't take it apart.
2. Manually disable your sleep/wake button.
Then they can't turn off your iPhone.
Then wear a flashing sign above your head proclaiming that you have done this to actually attempt to ward off thieves.
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Need tighter jeans.
about time....
it may help them, that is, until the site is hacked into....
(oh well,, that seemed like a good idea.)
don't people carry pocket knives in public ?? I know its against the law, but i have a right to defend myself, nuts to what the law says...
I always have one on me all the time..
it may help them, that is, until the site is hacked into....
(oh well,, that seemed like a good idea.)
don't people carry pocket knives in public ?? I know its against the law, but i have a right to defend myself, nuts to what the law says...
I always have one on me all the time..