Latest news with #InternationalMobileEquipmentIdentity
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Apple and Google Face Accusations of Enabling Thieves Through Device Policies
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Apple and Google have been accused by UK lawmakers and police officials of not doing enough to stem a lucrative international black market in stolen smartphones. During a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, June 3, Members of Parliament and the Metropolitan Police called on the tech giants to block stolen devices from accessing cloud services, a move they argue would drastically reduce resale value and help deter theft. Police said they have recorded 80,000 stolen phones in London in 2024—a 25% rise from 2023. Most of the thefts involve iPhones, and officials estimate the trade generates up to £50 million ($67,837,542) annually. Many devices are trafficked abroad to markets in Algeria, China and Hong Kong. Stock image of a Google smartphone and the Apple logo. Stock image of a Google smartphone and the Apple logo. Photo by Vadym Plysiuk / Getty Images Why It Matters Police officials argue that stolen smartphones are fueling violence and organized crime in the UK. The police want companies to block stolen phones based on their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers and prevent them from accessing Apple and Google cloud services. While UK mobile networks already use IMEI blacklists, these blocks do not apply globally, which leaves a loophole for international criminal networks. What to Know Despite calls dating back to 2023, Apple and Google have not implemented the requested global blocks. Both companies raised concerns during the hearing that those measures could be exploited for fraud. "We worry, and we have had these discussions with the Met, that there is a vector for fraud," Gary Davis, global senior director for privacy and law enforcement at Apple, said during the session, as reported by The Register. Davis added, "Every month, over 1,000 people try to imitate legitimate users to seek data from us and delete accounts." Simon Wingrove, Google's software engineering manager, told MPs that "Android devices can be blocked from accessing the cloud services after they are stolen," but cautioned that changes based on IMEI data would require industry-wide coordination. What People Are Saying Former policing minister Kit Malthouse said it seemed Apple was "dragging your feet and sitting behind this is a very strong commercial incentive". He added, "The fact that £50m of phones are stolen in London every year—if that stopped, that would be £50m in sales that would be depressed." In a statement to Newsweek, Google said, "Google does not profit from phone theft. For years, Android has invested in advanced theft protection features, including the industry's first Theft Detection Lock and Offline Device Lock, to help prevent theft and block stolen devices. "We've built and evolved these features by listening to victims and partnering closely with law enforcement and industry." Newsweek reached out to Apple requesting further comment on June 4. What's Next Security firms have suggested that a central cloud-level block tied to the IMEI system could be feasible, provided devices are registered from their first activation. Dion Price, CEO of the locking tech firm Trustonic, told MPs that his company offers that service for clients, according to The Register. "If we get the signal from the legitimate owner of that device, then we can lock or unlock it within 30 seconds anywhere in the world," he said. Meanwhile, police in London have begun deploying high-speed e-bikes to pursue snatchers and reported a 15% drop in thefts during April and May. However, officials warned this reduction is likely due to increased enforcement and public awareness, and is not a permanent fix.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Cops trace 990 lost cellphones using CEIR portal in five months
Lucknow: The Lucknow police has recovered 990 lost or stolen mobile phones between Jan and mid-May, out of around 1,100 complaints registered. The recovery rate stands at an 90%, showcasing how digital platforms like the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) have revolutionised mobile theft tracking across India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This translates to an average of nearly 7-8 phones being returned to their owners every day. The credit for this largely goes to the CEIR portal of the department of telecommunications (DoT) under the govt of India, which empowers police to trace and block mobile devices using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI ) numbers. "Before CEIR, tracing lost phones across telecom circles was complex and time-consuming. Now, we can immediately block a device once the IMEI is entered in the portal. It is a powerful deterrent for mobile thieves and a great support system for citizens. The moment we block an IMEI via CEIR, the device becomes useless on any Indian telecom network. That alone has drastically reduced the market value of stolen devices," said DCP East Zone, Shashank Singh. Shubham Yadav, a 27-year-old software engineer from Indiranagar, lost his phone in Jan. "I filled out the complaint on the CEIR portal," he said. Three weeks later, the phone was traced to a shop in Sitapur, where someone tried to use a new SIM. "I got a call from the cybercell that my phone was found and was being returned. All my work contacts and data were on that device," Shubham said. In another case, college student Prerna Singh had her phone snatched while waiting for an auto in Mahanagar. "I reported the snatching to the local police and submitted the FIR copy on the CEIR site the same evening," she said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Within 10 days, the phone was tracked when it connected to a network in Unnao, and a suspect was identified through tower dump data and IMEI tracing. "They not only recovered my phone but also arrested the person who had a record of similar offences," Prerna said. Former IPS officer and cyber expert, Triveni Singh said that the CEIR platform allows users to block a lost or stolen mobile by entering their IMEI number, uploading a copy of their police complaint or FIR, and verifying their identity. "The phone is blacklisted across all telecom operators in India. If the device is found or switched on anywhere, law enforcement is alerted. Police can then initiate recovery by tracking the device's activity via cell tower triangulation and location pings," he said. "It's like an Aadhaar for phones. Every device has a digital fingerprint. Once blocked, it is useless to thieves but priceless to us," said a senior cybercell officer. The police have urged citizens to note down their IMEI numbers (printed on the device box or dial *#06# on the phone) and act fast when a device is lost. "It's no longer about chasing after criminals blindly. With data and digital footprints, we can now outsmart them," said ACP Mahanagar, Neha Tripathi.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Police recover 76 lost mobile phones via CEIR portal in month-long drive
New Delhi, Delhi Police has recovered 76 lost mobile phones in a month-long drive using the Central Equipment Identity Register portal, which helps trace and block lost or stolen devices, officials said on Saturday. The phones, either reported lost or mentioned in theft-related e-FIRs, were recovered through cyber surveillance and International Mobile Equipment Identity -based tracking, a police officer said. "We traced 76 mobile phones in the last one month and handed them over to their rightful owners. The operation was made possible through a combination of cyber-space surveillance and IMEI tracking," Deputy Commissioner of Police Devesh Kumar Mahla said. The recoveries were made by various police stations across the New Delhi district. The maximum number 38 were recovered by Kartavya Path police station, followed by 10 recoveries by Tughlak Road, seven by Tilak Marg , four each by Chanakyapuri and South Avenue. He said three each were recovered by Barakhamba Road, North Avenue, and Connaught Place, two by Mandir Marg, one each by Parliament Street, and the Cyber police station. Some of the recovered phones had been reported missing as far back as three years ago, while others were lost only a week before being traced, the officer added. The police are currently working on tracking around 300 more mobile phones and expect to return them to their owners over the next month, he said. "We have used non-traditional methods to achieve this result. All the individuals who received their phones back had simply lodged a lost report and trusted the police to act," Mahla said. The success of the recovery operation has encouraged police to increase the use of the CEIR portal and boost public awareness about digital complaint mechanisms, he said. Developed by the Department of Telecommunications, the CEIR platform allows users to report lost or stolen mobile phones, which are then blocked to prevent misuse and tracked if connected to a network, he added.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Daily Record
Martin Lewis encourages mobile phone users to dial five-digit code ASAP
The money expert says this code could secure your phone from potential theft. Martin Lewis is encouraging everyone who owns a mobile phone to dial a five-digit code into their keypad as soon as possible. The money expert said that punching in these numbers and symbols can help secure your mobile from thieves, reported Birmingham Live. Lewis said: 'Mobile security tips - thefts are up 40 per cent in London but they're going up right across the country too. Now the crucial thing, they're not just trying to nick your phone, some of them are trying to access your financial data from your phone. He continued: 'You have to protect yourselves on this, folks. Dial *#06# to get your IMEI image then screengrab and save it." An IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a unique 15-digit serial number that identifies a mobile phone or device. It's used by mobile network operators to authenticate and track devices, and can also be used to block a stolen phone. Lewis says that knowing this number will be crucial if your phone ever gets stolen, and that you should give your IMEI number to the police if you find yourself in this situation. The expert continued: "That is what you're gonna need to give to police if your phone is stolen. Screen grab it and assuming you can access your email not just on your phone, I would just email it to yourself so you've got a copy somewhere." He explained: "Many people have that appear on their lock screen so when your phone's locked, the code still appears. You don't want that. It means if someone gets your phone they can get the code. "So what you need to do to stop that is turn off your 'preview notifications'. It will still tell you you've had a message but it won't tell you your code on your message. "Everybody please do that one. It's a nightmare if you've not done it." And Martin Lewis isn't the only one warning people to obtain their IMEI number as soon as possible. On Reddit, one user echoed the warning, and said: "Take a screenshot now of your IMEI number and back it up online. "It will be a lifesaver if you need future tech support and your phone won't turn on. "Settings>About phone>Status I'm dealing with my wife's bootlooping Nexus 5x and wishing she had done this earlier." A second said: "This is a very good LPT. While flashing I accidentally wiped everything. "When I reloaded the software, I needed to provide the IMEI to get my phone signal back. "Thankfully I had the phone's original box to get the IMEI number. But it was a very painful process of trying to find the box." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
India Today
29-04-2025
- India Today
Bombay High Court upholds life sentences of 2 men in businessman murder case
The High Court of Bombay dismissed an appeal and upheld the life sentences of two men from Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgad and Gorakhpur for killing a businessperson in the Ghatkopar area of Mumbai on November 5, Kumar alias Chhotelal Yadav, 27, and Nagendra Kumar alias Monu Lalkrishor Kanojiya, 25, were arrested in Lucknow and Gorakhpur, respectively, for killing Shankar Thakkar, a businessperson engaged in an embroidery visited his workshop on the fateful day of November 5, 2011, and did not return. His phone was unreachable and when his family reached the workshop the next day, the shop was locked, but it was only two days later that a foul smell coming from the shop alerted the family members. The police broke open the lock, after which Thakkar's body was found lying dead in a pool of blood on his cabin floor with a computer wire tied around his neck and some oozes of blood on stained probe revealed that a gold chain, ring, cash and the mobile phone of the deceased were Call Data Record (CDR) and International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the mobile phones of the deceased revealed that the same was being used by Kanojiya. The broken gold chain of the deceased was seized from a jewellery shop and blood-stained clothes worn by the accused were also seized after the accused revealed the details through trial was conducted by the Mumbai Sessions Court, where the prosecution's case was based on circumstantial evidence including two accused were seen sipping tea with Thakkar. However, the statement of an employee of a nearby hotel who served tea to those in the workshop at around 4 pm was the key evidence. Also, the statement of a printing press owner who had seen the accused close the shutter of the workshop and lock it around 5 pm, was crucial in the 2015, a trial court sentenced the duo to life imprisonment for they filed an appeal which came up for hearing before the bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Dr Neela Additional Government Pleader in the case, SS Kaushik, took the court through the testimonies of 14 witnesses and submitted that the prosecution had established all incriminating evidence against the appellants by reliable and cogent submitted, "The circumstances so proved by the prosecution form a chain of events so complete that there can be no other hypothesis other than the guilt of the appellants."The bench opined that the sessions court judgment "is a well-reasoned and legally sound decision".advertisementIt further stated, "The observations of the trial court pertaining to the last seen theory and the reliability of the statements of the witnesses examined, the corroborated evidence etc. are compelling and do not warrant any interference."The appeal against the trial court's order of life sentence to the two accused was then dismissed.
