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TechQuiet 2d · day 3

iOS 27.2 beta 2 exposes Apple's unreleased iPhone anti-snatching feature

Code in the latest beta reveals Apple is developing AutoLock, a security feature to automatically lock iPhones when snatched from users' hands.

newest coverage 2d agosummary written 2d ago9 pieces NewswiresMastodonRedditGoogle News

What to know

  • Apple is developing AutoLock, an unreleased iPhone security feature that automatically locks devices when snatched from users' hands, as revealed by code in iOS 27.2 beta 2.
  • The feature uses a voting system of theft signals and safeguards (biometrics, location, app activity) to detect snatch-and-grab theft while preventing false positives.
  • Apple has not announced the feature publicly and has disabled the actual locking component in the beta, keeping only the underlying service enabled for testing.
  • The development responds to rising snatch-and-grab theft targeting iPhones, particularly in cities like London where the devices are high-value targets for criminals.

“It is worth noting that the feature is still under development and is not currently enabled or available as a user-facing option in iOS 27.2 beta 2.”

9to5Mac · 9to5Mac ↗

Apple Technology company developing AutoLockMarcus Mendes 9to5Mac journalist

iOS 27.2 beta 2 exposes Apple's unreleased iPhone anti-snatching feature
appleinsider.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in one hour at Sep 21, 5 PM; 9 pieces over 3 days (4 articles · 5 posts) Sep 21, 5 PM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Google News 2Sep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Mastodon 2, Newswires 1Sep 22, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Reddit 1Sep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 6 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 22yesterdaynow · 9:44 AM ET
  1. 2

    AppleInsider reports AutoLock responds to iPhone theft epidemic

    AppleInsider coverage notes Apple has good reason to prioritize anti-theft features, citing that in places like London iPhones have become particularly attractive targets for thieves, with some criminals rejecting Android devices in favor of Apple hardware.

    “In places like London, iPhones have become particularly attractive targets for thieves, with some criminals going so far as to reject Android devices in favor of Apple's more lucrative hardware.”
    — AppleInsider
    • appleinsider@mastodon.social

      Apple is testing an iPhone security feature designed to recognize snatch-and-grab theft and lock the device before the thief can exploit it. https:// appleinsider.com/articles/26/0 9/21/apples-ios-272-beta-2-reveals-new-anti-snatching-protections?utm_medium=social&utm_source=mastodon

      appleinsider@mastodon.socialMastodon2d agoview on Mastodon ↗
  2. 1

    iOS 27.2 beta 2 reveals detailed code for AutoLock feature

    New references in iOS 27.2 beta 2 show Apple is still actively developing the feature, internally called AutoLock. The code reveals the feature uses multiple signals to detect theft and includes safeguards like biometric authentication, location-based checks, and a backoff mechanism to prevent false positives.

    “The code also suggests AutoLock uses a voting system in which a potential theft signal can request a lock, while safeguards such as biometrics, familiar locations, or certain app activities can veto it.”
    — 9to5Mac
    1. 1 outlet iOS 27.2 beta 2 reveals new details about unnanounced iPhone anti-snatching feature

      first by 9to5Mac, 2d ago

  3. background

    9to5Mac first reports Apple developing iPhone auto-lock on theft detection — 9to5Mac initially reported that Apple was working on a new iPhone security feature that can automatically lock the device when it detects the phone has been snatched from the user's hand.