News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

August 2, 2007

ipod

Dateline goes undercover, investigates iPod theft

Posted Aug. 2, ’07, 10:45 AM PT by Cyrus Farivar
Category | iPod

ijacker.jpgFake Steve points us to an MSNBC Dateline story that points out (shocker!) that people steal iPods, nationwide. (Including, I’m ashamed to say, at my alma mater of Berkeley, and in my hometown of Santa Monica.)

Dateline makes a compelling argument that Apple has the registration information and so when people hook up their iPods to iTunes that it should be possible to set up some kind of alert system, even though the company apparently claims that such a database and system would not be possible.

And as usual, FSJ provides the reason why Apple doesn’t do such a thing:

Anyway, um, think about this for a minute. We’re trying to sell more iPods, right? Yours gets stolen, we’re happy to sell you a new one. We’ve got a new one that even makes phone calls. Have you heard of it?

Cynicism aside, Dateline also turned up this little nugget of information:

Just recently came word from the U.S. Patent Office that Apple has applied for a new patent. In its application, Apple confirms that there is a “serious problem” with iPod theft and that iPod owners have been seriously injured or even murdered for their iPods. And the company has proposed an ingenious solution to the problem: essentially, you can’t recharge the iPod or the new iPhone if you can’t prove the device is yours when you hook it up to iTunes.

Now, I’m not sure that this would do much, given that it would seem to be quite trivial to format and reinstall the iPod software. But maybe Apple is hoping that thieves aren’t so computer-savvy.


9 Comments

George said:

Since every iPod has a serial number (and I'm fairly certain that serial number doesn't change if the iPod is formatted), either that number could be stored on the local machine or in the Ipod owner's iTunes Store account. When the iPod is connected to a computer, it could try to verify that it is connected to a legitimate/authorized system and if not refuse to charge and sync. Not sure what good it would do with a wall-charging unit but it would prevent thieves from updating the songs already on the device.

If the serial number was stored in the owner's iTunes account, Apple could also set up a system where the owner could log in and report the iPod stolen. And if the iPod were later connected to a computer (and maybe if it failed a local validity test), the iTunes Store stolen iPod database could be searched to see if it had been reported stolen and if so disable the iPod from further use. Would be nice if it also logged the IP address of the computer the iPod was attached to but I'm not sure Apple would want to go that "Big Brother" with it.

In theory, it seems pretty simple to implement.

August 2, 2007 11:24 AM
Dave-O said:

Sounds too much like Windows Genuine Advantage if you ask me. I hope Apple doesn't do that. I find it ridiculous to hold Apple responsible for stolen iPods. What about stolen MacBooks? Should everyone making a device that retails for more than $300 be responsible for inevitable thefts? We don't hold automakers responsible for car jackings, why is Apple responsible for iPod muggings?

Any attempt to stop theft will interfere with legitimate sales. When I'm done with my iPod, I should be allowed to sell it on eBay.

August 2, 2007 11:48 AM
krye said:

And once this new technology is implemented, what do you do if you, say, buy a used iPod off eBay? Whatever you would do to "call it your own" would be the same as what the thieves would do once they have stolen yours, making this technology useless. So, I don't see this new technology happening.

Would you leave your fancy sports ran running unattended with the windows down in front of a store? No, then don't advertise to the whole world that you're wearing an iPod. If you're walking around town with one of those around-the-arm holders, or something similar, you're just asking for it.

My sister-in-law had her new $300 iPod stolen right off her desk at work. Imagine that! You can't trust anyone when it comes to these coveted gizmos, not even the people you work with.

August 2, 2007 11:57 AM
Jay French said:

wouldn't the iphone or ipod have a "MAC" address or something similar that would always be the same. So who gives a rats @@@ if its formated its still ipod xxxxxxxxxx and unusable.

August 2, 2007 12:40 PM
wesg said:

I caught most of this show, and it was interesting to see the lengths a show would go to to demonstrate that the iPod is so popular people steal them (shocker!). Leaving an iPod in a NEW box, without anything else around it is probably something that most people try to avoid... after all, if its in the box, you probably bought it to use it, so you'd make sure it got home safely. All in all, it was a very interesting show.

August 2, 2007 12:48 PM
Tony Di Giacomo said:

Well the patent sounds like a good idea. However, once its stolen its well, stolen. Just because they can't charge doesn't mean they'll give it back. As for the database I'm sure Apple has that information (serial numbers that match the person who registered it) but I'd rather see that info used to prevent or help find stolen laptops.

August 2, 2007 12:54 PM
Vic said:

There are a lot of ways this could be done. The iPod (and presumeably the iPhones) Serial Number is embeded in the iPod/iPhone, so even if the theif erased and reformatted the iPod/iPhone, this info would still be there, so they couldn't sync, register or charge the offending unit... If anyone out there can make this work, AND be totally user-friendly, it's Apple...

August 2, 2007 1:34 PM
Dave-O said:

I couldn't care less about stolen iPods. They are objects, they simply aren't that important to anyone.

No, the important issue is the violent attacks, sometimes even murder. Now explain to me how Apple is going to change the ways of someone who will kill for an iPod.

August 2, 2007 4:35 PM
Jon said:

Another thing that has not been addressed here (or anywhere I read about this) is the presumption that whoever steals an iPod will be the one using it.

Crime statistics for theft don't support this.

iPods thefts like those in the report are crimes of convenience and, if done in the manner of the report (new and unopened), as new units would not be registered. Apple would have no way of knowing the unit was stolen before it was registered.

Most iPod thefts are like any other theft of a small, somewhat valuable item... the thief wants money, not the stolen item, and intends to sell it to a third person (a second victim). It is unlikely the thief will register it.

August 3, 2007 8:24 AM

Leave a comment

 



IDG IDG NETWORK:   CIO   Computerworld   CSO   GamePro   GamerHelp   IDG Connect   Infoworld  
   JavaWorld   LinuxWorld   Macworld   Network World   PC World   PC World Canada   Playlist   Techworld