Do you come across situations where you bought a second-hand or refurbished iPhone from somebody, and later on find that the phone is a stolen one? Apple very thoughtfully devised a tool, which will prevent you from buying iPhones illegally procured, through simple checks. The Activation Lock Status Tool from Apple is precisely meant for preventing sale of stolen Apple devices.
The tool is available on Apple’s iCloud site. It is primarily a theft deterrent feature of iPhone in iOS7 and iOS 8. The procedure for ascertaining whether the gadget is a genuine piece or stolen one is simple: the user has to enter the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or phone’s serial number. The webpage would ascertain from Apple’s server whether the Activation Lock is on or off. Here incidentally Apple uses captcha to protect the site from bots. If the Activation Lock is enabled, the user has to get the password and Apple’s ID for unlocking it. The iPhone can be used only after the Activation Lock is turned off.
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Purchase of a used or refurbished device can be done safely by checking beforehand if the Activation Lock is turned on or otherwise. If it is on, it could possibly be a stolen one. The possibility of the previous owner forgetting to lock off the iPhone can also not be ruled out. Nonetheless, the tool will protect the buyer from unwittingly going for a stolen device. The original owner has to ensure that the Activation Lock Tool is turned off or the phone has been removed from the iCloud before selling the device.
The details about the tool can be had from Apple's website as well.
The details about the tool can be had from Apple's website as well.
Author : Syed Zafar Ahmad
Designation: Executive Director
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
Bio: A freelancer with a flair for experimenting with innovative technology and electronic gadgets that could enrich the life of a modern common man, and a consultant in issues touching every-day life of a computer suave professional.
