Cellphone thieves beware
2010-02-08 14:26
Cape Town - New cellphone software promises to reduce the number of cellphone thefts by allowing users to encrypt their data and track phones.
"But wait, there's more," Wouter de Swardt, distributer of the Maverick Secure Mobile application told News24.
"Every call the thief makes, every call he gets, every SMS he sends is recorded and you can track exactly where the thief is," he said.
"We had a lot of fun field-testing the software. Cellphone theft is a massive problem and most stolen phones are used to commit other crime. You can use this software for protecting your data and even getting your phone back," de Swardt added.
He said that the software wouldn't work with older cellphones, but said that the compatibility list on the website was being updated often.
Police siren
He explained how the software works.
"First step - you download and install the Maverick software. You register an e-mail and at least two reporting phones. Use your wife or husband, but maybe also a friend or neighbour because you and your wife may be robbed together.
"After the thief steals your phone, at some stage, he will insert a new SIM card. All the data on your phone will be encrypted - including pictures, contacts - you know, some people even have their bank information on their cellphones.
"You will receive an SMS that says: 'Stolen phone', and even the phone's location, which can be very accurate, depending on the type of phone. These phones with navigators are extremely accurate."
De Swardt said that users may also upload all their content to the website for free, to use as a back-up should their phone get lost, and also illustrated how a cellphone owner can "get his own back" on a thief.
"You have all this information on your stolen phone and you can get you data back at the thief's expense via SMS, so now you don't want him to use your phone. You just send an SMS code 'Hang' and the phone emits a loud police siren and the screen flashes 'Stolen phone'. It's irritatingly loud and there's no way anybody can stop that siren," said de Swardt.
De Swardt conceded that one could stop the sound by removing the battery, but added that the siren would continue when the battery was re-inserted.
Forensics program
"We field-tested this in a restaurant and when that siren went off, everyone looked at our guy. There's also the option of offering a reward and most people will return the phone and claim the reward," he said.
De Swardt said that it would be possible for a "backyard" cellphone technician to disable the software, but only before the user had enabled it, and by completely erasing everything on the phone.
The system though, promises a reduction in cellphone theft and, by implication crime committed with stolen cellphones.
"I've had meetings with insurance companies and they're excited by this. If phones have this software, cellphone theft will nose-dive; crime will nose-dive.
"Also, all the information provided by this program is admissible in court because it's a forensics program. No-one can manipulate the information gathered by the system," de Swardt said.
The software, developed in India, also offers programmable panic buttons and costs R199 per year.