Apple recently added a new tool to its growing collection of security tools for iCloud users. This new tool allows users to check and determine if an iOS device is currently protected via the "Find my iPhone"And the function"Activation Lock". In other words, it allows you to find out if the device you are about to buy (perhaps used) has been stolen or not and check if the device is locked by iCloud.
Introduced with the release of iOS 7, “Activation Lock” is a kind of Apple “kill switch”, which prevents theft and protects lost iOS devices by rendering the device completely useless. When this lock is enabled, it prevents malicious users from turning off Find My iPhone, or reactivating the device with a different name. To restore access, you need to enter the Apple ID and password associated with that specific device.
Since it was introduced, Activation Lock has actually been praised by many users around the world, as it has led to a massive reduction in iPhone theft. Such a tool is undoubtedly a great asset for iOS users but one of its biggest drawbacks is the inability for a new user to figure out if the previous owner has left Find My iPhone enabled on the device.
That's why Apple released the tool "Activation Lock Status”Which has the function of verifying the activation status of an iOS device.
Many users, once they discover that their iOS device has been stolen, they perform a total wipe of data from iCloud to prevent theft. Deleting a device leads to "activation lock" forcing you to enter the Apple ID and password associated with that device to regain access.
If Activation Lock has been enabled, it is likely that the device you are trying to buy was stolen (or the previous user did not turn off Activation Lock before selling it).
To use the Activation Lock Status tool, users simply enter the IMEI or serial number of the iOS device, which will be crossed with Apple's internal database to ensure that Activation Lock is not active for that device.
The process has become really useful for those who buy second-hand iOS devices and need the security feature turned off to gain access to the device.
As a precautionary measure, Activation Lock is enabled by default with the latest iOS 8 versions, along with a new feature called “Send Last Location”, which sends the latest geographic coordinates before its battery runs out.
Is this a good move by Apple to prevent iPhone theft? Only in time will we be able to find out!
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