In 2013, about 3.1M devices in the United States were stolen, nearly doubling the previous year according to Consumer Reports. In an attempt to eliminate this crime of convenience, lawmakers are working towards the requirement of a kill switch on all smartphones sold. Kill switch software allows consumers to disable a phone once reported stolen and only reactivate the device with a correct password or PIN.
Though Minnesota became the first state to require the kill switch on all smartphones sold there, California signed into law this week a new version of the kill switch requirement. California’s law also requires manufacturers, like Apple and Samsung, to ship smartphones with the anti-theft technology already turned on by default. Some data suggests the kill switch technology is already helping to deter smartphone theft. Apple has offered this technology since September and there has been a significant dip in thefts of Apple devices since that time.
