Apple Watch lacks necessary security features to dissuade theft

“The Apple Watch contains security measures to prevent thieves from accessing your data, but it doesn’t include the necessary features to dissuade thieves from trying to steal your device to begin with,” Jeff Benjamin reports for iDownloadBlog.

“The problem stems from the lack of an Activation Lock-like feature on Watch OS 1.0,” Benjamin reports. “Unlike the iPhone, if someone steals your Apple Watch, they can easily reset the device (bypass the passcode), and pair it with a new iPhone logged in to a different iCloud account. In other words, it’s totally feasible to steal an Apple Watch and set it up on a different device as if you just purchased it from an Apple Store.”

MacDailyNews Take: Not good.

“The Apple Watch has a security problem that we haven’t had to worry about for almost two years on iOS. It’s not a security problem from a user data standpoint, but it is a security issue from a device theft standpoint,” Benjamin reports. “The fact that the Apple Watch lacks Activation Lock is an encouragement to thieves. It means that they stand to make a higher profit, as the device that they’re stealing is totally usable for whoever decides to buy the stolen property. Even if the thief doesn’t plan on reselling the Apple Watch, they can simply decide to use it with their own iPhone.”

Much more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: We have high hopes for Watch OS 1.1.

Until then, let’s be careful out there.

Expect press releases from opportunistic attorneys general and other sundry politicians in 3… 2…

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]