In the case of emergency, you might just have to touch your iPhone in a certain way to call authorities. Recently, Apple has filed a patent technology that allows the devices to enter "panic mode" with just a touch of user's finger.
Apple is the first company to include biometrics in its devices. The company's Touch ID technology might also allow people to make payments online by just touching the phone.
The innovative technology allows users to register multiple fingerprints to execute different types of command on the device, such as unlocking the phone, opening an app and make payments.
For example, users could assign the right thumb to lock down the phone or the left thumb to open the most used app.
This technology could be used in emergency situations, such as accidents or robberies.
If the device is snatched, the feature could stop a thief accessing the user's personal information. It can hide all private information of a user, restoring the iPhone to factory setting.
The company explained that users could register one finger as a "panic finger", which would silently send details of the incident to the authorities.
For example, by activating the "panic mode", the device can place an emergency call to 911 that instantly provides user's name and location.
Once the device is in panic mode, it can also take videos or pictures of the thief and then send those files to owner's iCloud account. The information can serve as evidence for the police.
Furthermore, the device could release "a noise similar to that produced by a car alarm."
According to Consumer reports, more than 3 million handsets were stolen in 2013. Moreover, smartphone theft has been rampant in large cities. In the last four years, theft has increased by 26% in Los Angeles.
Security experts advised that when using a phone outside, try to get inside a store (building or shopping center) to use the device safely. Also, look around to see if there is anything or anybody suspicious before taking the device out.
Furthermore, using a hands-free unit can avoid phone theft. Also, do not text and walk at the same time. Taking the device out in public to check and answer messages could put users in a very vulnerable position.
