Apple is reportedly working on a new anti-theft measure which will record the fingerprints and snap photos of a phone-thief.
Patent filed by Apple
An application for a patent filed by Apple details this security mechanism. According to the patent, the mechanism will be incorporated in future iPhone and iPad devices. The patent details a trigger mechanism which will cause the phone to record the biometric information of whoever is using the phone at the triggered moment via the Touch ID button.
How it could work
These trigger conditions could be either when someone is trying to bypass the security of the phone or trying to gain unauthorized access to the phone via a third party device.
Information recorded by the phone can be either one or multiple fingerprints. It can also be one or more photographs of the thief, video recording of the thief, audio of the surrounding environment etc. The patent details:
The computing device may then provide the stored biometric information for identification of one or more unauthorized users
Of course, it’s not as easy as just setting up simple triggers in iOS and that’s that. There are some technical problems with implementing this system.
Problems with the system
Firstly, Touch ID requires you to press your finger several times on to the sensor for it to register it. The fingerprint sensor can only recognise a part of the fingerprint in one go. What’s more, you need to press your finger on it in multiple angles as well. The thief wouldn’t just press his finger on the home button repeatedly in an attempt to unlock the device.
This can be fixed in the future if Apple implements better fingerprint sensors and an improved Touch ID system. Next, a covert way of taking photos or recording video needs to be implemented. This won’t be much of a problem considering that there are already apps like Lookout which do that.
Legal and Privacy Issues
It also raises privacy and security concerns about the new system. If your iPhone can snap photos and record and save a thief’s fingerprints in the company’s database, it is recording yours as well. What’s there to say if the company stores your info on their servers as well?
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has used the company’s record on privacy and its stance on not storing any unencrypted information to market Apple products and services. However, limitations in these new anti-theft measures means that these features wouldn’t make it into the iPhones and other igadgets any time soon.
Via The Verge
Meanwhile even the best Android theft lock can be bypassed with a simple rooting and flashing procedure.
PS: Not trying to start an Apple vs Android flame/fanboy war, so don’t even try; both sides have pros and cons and I like both of them. Just pointing out the fact that Google needs to take a page from Apple’s book and beef up Android’s security.
Sony has introduced cloud locking (via google account) on all new phones which is buit in bootloader and cannot be bypassed by even flashing new rom. These phones can only be rooted by unlocking the bootloader (with code from Sony) but cloud locking still works on unlocked bootloader.
Don’t know about other android based phones though.
Same with HTC.
Good News. Atlast my wish come true, as already 3 times my phone snatched – BB – LG – Nokia / SonyEricson (2 together).
Good for agencies like NSA.
Already available to android via application “GOTYA”. Mostly get pics of my kids trying to unlock phones.