It didn't make it into today's WWDC keynote address, but Apple is adding an important security feature to watchOS 2. The new version of the wearable OS will bring Activation Lock — a feature that has been on iPhones since 2013 — to the Apple Watch.
Activation Lock is an anti-theft measure that makes stolen devices less attractive to potential thieves. If someone were to steal your device and wipe it (something that can be done on a Watch in just a few taps), Activation Lock won't let the device be reactivated without first inputting the Apple ID and password that was originally used to set it up. It may not stop someone from stealing and selling your Watch for parts, and there's still no comparable feature to "Find my iPhone," but Activation Lock is a start.
IT'S NO FIND MY IPHONE, BUT IT'S A START
Just last month, users grew worried after 9to5Mac pointed out how easy it is to wipe the settings, data, and passcode from an Apple Watch. From there, someone could pair a Watch to any new iPhone. In the user guide, Apple frames this as a way to restore your Watch's functionality should you forget your passcode, which is convenient. But for many people the function made it far too easy for someone else to wind up using your Watch as their own.
Users will have the choice to enable Activation Lock on their Watch or not, so it's ultimately up to them. The watchOS 2 developer beta is available today, and the final version will be released this fall.
Activation Lock is an anti-theft measure that makes stolen devices less attractive to potential thieves. If someone were to steal your device and wipe it (something that can be done on a Watch in just a few taps), Activation Lock won't let the device be reactivated without first inputting the Apple ID and password that was originally used to set it up. It may not stop someone from stealing and selling your Watch for parts, and there's still no comparable feature to "Find my iPhone," but Activation Lock is a start.
IT'S NO FIND MY IPHONE, BUT IT'S A START
Just last month, users grew worried after 9to5Mac pointed out how easy it is to wipe the settings, data, and passcode from an Apple Watch. From there, someone could pair a Watch to any new iPhone. In the user guide, Apple frames this as a way to restore your Watch's functionality should you forget your passcode, which is convenient. But for many people the function made it far too easy for someone else to wind up using your Watch as their own.
Users will have the choice to enable Activation Lock on their Watch or not, so it's ultimately up to them. The watchOS 2 developer beta is available today, and the final version will be released this fall.
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