iPhone 6 can be instantly turned into a brick if stolen

Apple Inc won praise from New York lawmakers for making Kill Switch, an anti-theft software in its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, turned on by default. The release of iOS 8 means that the anti-theft software will be automatically installed on older iPhones when iPhone users upgrade the operating system.

The anti-theft software installed on the new iPhone can remotely lock and delete the data in the phone if the phone is stolen. Once the Kill Switch is activated, the iPhone will immediately become a brick, thus stopping the thief from stealing the new iPhone 6.

According to Reuters, New York District Attorney George Gascon praised the new anti-theft feature, saying, "It will change the rules of the game, change people's behavior, and ultimately eliminate the crime of stealing phones."

As early as September 2013, Apple added the Kill Switch anti-theft feature to its mobile operating system iOS 7. But until now, this feature has not been turned on by default, requiring users to turn it on manually in the system settings. Making the anti-theft feature turned on by default is a move taken by smartphone companies under pressure from lawmakers to protect the security of mobile phones.

US lawmakers have passed legislation requiring smartphone manufacturers to enable the Kill Switch anti-theft feature in their phones by default. Starting in July 2015, all phones sold in California must have the Kill Switch software installed and enabled by default. In April this year, Apple voluntarily signed an agreement with other smartphone companies to pre-install the essential anti-theft software Kill Switch in new phones.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.