Yet another profession needs to turn computer-literate, or at least smartphone-literate. Stealing devices like iPhone’s and Android devices, as we owners increasingly use services that allow us to locate our lost/stolen precious phones.
In the story recalled by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the thieves were elaborate enough to think about asking the victim for his credit card’s PIN code (only useful for cash in the U.S., but much more valuable in EMV countries). The story does not say if they asked for his iPhone codes (unblock code and PIN code for the SIM), but we can assume that this piece of information will be rapidly learnt by thieves.
However, obviously, the thieves did not know that they needed to browse through the applications installed on the phone, and to deactivate a few things on the phone in order to make it safe. And since these applications are quite numerous, and since they can even be hidden in other applications (I am thinking of adding the feature to the stupid kid-oriented game I am writing, in case a kid severely misplaces the phone), life is going to be really hard for phone thieves.
This really looks like a new business is needed. Possibly some specialized training for thieves (How to reset a phone? How to make sure that you can’t be traced?), or more likely a very basic training session (Turn the damn thing off), followed by a dedicated service by an underground phone expert.
The bad news is that, if such stories keep making the news, thieves are really going to find a solution to the problem, and these little applications will lose their efficiency. So, let’s install them now, and enjoy the protection they still offer.
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