For your phone, a lock that can't be picked

There could come a day when no one will bother to steal your phone — because they won't be able to use it if they did. Todayonline reports.

"Five Singapore Polytechnic students have developed software that disables a handset if the user is unable to provide the user name and password. "The phone becomes useless," said project team leader Mr Ali Razreen, 19. "It defeats the purpose of theft."

... Users of this program must first install the software into their handphones. After that, anyone who tries to replace the SIM card will have to key in the user name and password before the phone can be used.

After three failed attempts, the phone is disabled — and the thief can be traced.

This is because information about the new SIM card will be sent to a database through SMS. The law now requires anyone buying a SIM card, including prepaid ones, to register their details with the phone operator."

emily | 9:49 AM | Technology |
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