Apple launches new Web tool for checking status of Activation Lock on iOS devices
Apple has just launched a new Web tool that lets you easily check the Activation Lock status of an iOS device, as noted by iDownloadBlog.
Introduced as part of Find My iPhone in iOS 7, Activation Lock is a so-called “kill switch” feature that prevents anyone else from using your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad in case it gets lost or stolen. If enabled, it requires your Apple ID and password before anyone else can turn off Find My iPhone on your device, erase your device, or reactivate and use your device.
To check the status of Activation Lock on your iOS device, just access the tool at icloud.com/activationlock, enter the IMEI or serial number of your device, enter the captcha code, and click Continue.
The website then indicates the current Activation Lock status of the device. If Activation Lock is off, the device is ready to use and you may want to enable Activation Lock for added device security.
If Activation Lock is on, Apple suggests a next course of action depending on whether you received the device from someone else or are going to sell or give away the device. In the former case, you have to contact the previous owner to reactivate the device. In the latter, you have to sign out of iCloud and erase all content and settings from the device.
The launch of this Activation Lock status-checking tool is just the latest in a series of additional security measures being introduced by Apple following the recent iCloud celebrity photo hacking incident.
