Microsoft ‘killswitch’ to disable stolen phones

Google and Microsoft are to follow in the footsteps of rival smartphone makers Apple and Samsung and introduce a ‘killswitch’ to their mobile phones that can deactivate them if stolen.

The development by the two technology giants comes after a report by New York State attorney general Eric Schneiderman found that the theft of iPhones has fallen significantly in the six months since Apple introduced new security features to its mobile operating system.

A killswitch gives users the power to disable a smartphone remotely in the event of it being stolen, as well as increasing security on the phone by adding more password layers, making it more difficult to wipe and then be sold on by thieves.