Is Apple doing enough to help prevent iPhone theft?

Recently, the US database of stolen mobile phones was launched. Its initial goal is to make it more difficult for thousands of stolen phones to be activated on US networks.

But according to a new report, the database is having little effect on the countless thefts reported in recent years. As the theft rate has increased, law enforcement officials are urging them to take immediate action in conjunction with mobile phone manufacturers to develop a technological solution.

But a New York Times article reported:

“San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon says that mobile phone manufacturers like Apple should explore new technologies that can help prevent theft. In March, he met with Apple executive Michael Foulkes, who handles the city’s government relations, to discuss how the company could improve its anti-theft technology. But after the meeting, he said that Apple did not promise to work on such measures to protect its devices from theft.”

He added that: "Unlike other types of crimes, this is a crime that could be easily solved with a technological solution."

On the other hand, the authorities are very concerned, since the problem is based on the fact that thieves are increasingly using more methods and tricks to ensure that many of the stolen phones end up abroad, even beyond the reach of the database.

So, questions like these arise: What can companies like Apple do about this? Authorities are starting to ask, urging all mobile phone providers to find some kind of technological solution. They add that the number of car thefts has decreased in recent years thanks to technological advancements.

Early last year, AT&T launched a new system that blocked stolen iPhones from accessing the network. Additionally, Apple, with its Find My Phone feature, uses iCloud to track stolen iOS devices, which has significantly helped many users. However, these efforts are not entirely sufficient, as thieves are able to hack and erase all the data on a phone, making it impossible to identify or track stolen devices.

Finally, we can note that there are currently a number of anti-theft technologies that allow owners of mobile devices to track their stolen phones or tablets.

What do you think? Is Apple doing enough to ensure device security? Should future devices incorporate technology to make them easier to locate?