Apple Remotely Disables iPhone Stolen During US Riots

A number of Apple Stores were looted during the recent protests in the United States, and people stole an undisclosed number of phones. It turns out that Apple disabled them, and asked the lookers to return the devices to the store.

There’s a reason why they are called smartphones and not just phones. These devices are a prominent member of the Internet of Things ecosystem. They are rather expensive, and Apple can still interact with them, even if they are on the other side of the planet.

According to an ArsTechnica report, people posted on social media pictures with non-working phones showing a clear message. “Please return to Apple Store. The device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.”

It’s unlikely that all of the devices will be returned to the shops, so really cheap models will flood second-hand markets. Third-party repair shops might even get visits from people wanting to bypass the limitations, although that’s difficult to achieve.

Besides the method used by Apple, there’s another interesting aspect. It’s obvious that Apple holds a certain degree of control over the devices, even after they are sold. Granted, the FindMy feature is available to all customers, but it’s not inconceivable that Apple has access to the same functionality.

The company also has other security measures inside their stores, which have been used in the past to stop people from exiting the premises with a functioning iPhone they didn’t buy.

In any case, Apple Stores will remain closed for the time being, especially in hot zones that combine both a high risk of infection stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and the threat of looting during possible riots.