Microsoft has offered more details regarding its activation lock for the Windows Phone platform, which will render devices useless for unauthorized users.
Smartphone theft is on the rise and the issue has drawn increasing attention; theft rates have reached alarming dimensions, therefore some advanced anti-theft measures are paramount to smartphone security.
Microsoft is planning to update its Windows Phone platform soon and add some much-needed anti-theft features that will prevent unauthorized users from accessing a device once it's been stolen.
The company signed on the CTIA's Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment back in April, and plans to release a software update to the Find My Phone feature on Windows Phone 8.1 in order to boost security.
"Over recent months, Microsoft has been working with others in the wireless industry to develop voluntary principles for implementing more robust theft-deterrent technologies in smartphones," the company explains in a blog post.
"As a result of this work, Microsoft signed on to CTIA's Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment in April, and today we are able to confirm that we will meet these commitments before the CTIA goal of July 2015."
To meet those commitments, Microsoft will be adding the following features to its Find My Phone tool in Windows 8.1:
- Remotely erase personal data from the smartphone
- Render the smartphone inoperable by unauthorized users, except the ability to call 911
- Prevent reactivation or setup of the smartphone without the authorized user's permission
- Reverse inoperability if they recover their smartphone and restore user data stored in the cloud if the smartphone was erased
In other words, Microsoft will be adding an activation lock to its Windows Phone platform. Apple's activation lock in iOS 7, for instance, has received high praise and has reportedly played a major part in reducing iPhone thefts in New York, London, and San Francisco.
"The new theft deterrent features will be offered as an update for all phones running Windows Phone 8.0 and newer, though availability is subject to mobile operator and phone manufacturer approval," added Microsoft.
The company did not offer an exact rollout date for this neat update, but said that it will offer more details as it gets closer to release. Google, meanwhile, is also planning to implement an activation lock feature into its Android platform, and is also expected to achieve this by July 2015.
