Hasta La Gadget!

It has been reported multiple times in the past that lawmakers have been leaning on OEMs to bundle anti-theft technology with their smartphones and tablets, most prominent backers of this cause include the attorney general for New York and the San Francisco district attorney. Now, California’s Mark Leno, a Democratic State Senator, has introduced a bill which would make it mandatory for OEMs to include some kind of a “kill switch” in their mobiles or tablets before they’re sold in the state of California. This bill is being backed by the San Francisco district attorney George Gascón.

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Bill To Make “Kill Switch” Mandatory On Mobile Devices Sold In California original content from Ubergizmo.

Prosecutors in New York and San Francisco have given Apple’s new iOS 7 software some high praise, all thanks to a simple security measure. District Attorney George Gascón (SF) and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (NY), both part of the “Secure Our Smartphones Coalition,” are “strongly urging” smartphone owners to apply the company’s latest update because it now includes the Activation Lock feature by default, prompting users to set a passcode the first time they use iOS 7. Once enabled, the security feature stops thieves from reactivating a stolen phone and will require the original owner’s Apple ID and password to unlock a device, even after it’s been wiped. Although it’s relatively minor tweak, the attorneys believe it could help to reduce mobile-related crime — in fact they’re pressuring Google, Microsoft and Samsung to do something similar (although hopefully not too similar).

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Software, Apple

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Via: AP

Source: NY Attorney’s Office