Recently they stole my iPhone 6s… I’ve done everything I could to prevent it: sophisticated passwords, using only TouchID in public places, iCloud, holding it in deep pocket, etc… but it was enough for thief just to turn the phone off to get away. And after that, as you can guess, “Find My iPhone” becomes useless. Because a criminal can sell a device just for parts, for example :(

I wrote a small article about the ways to prevent such an incidents.
Here are the key items:

1. Passcode request on turning off

2. Change the way of activating hard reset
If hard reset could be done at least only when device is connected by cable with Mac or PC, that would be more safe (it seems to be very hard to make it while running away) and appropriate to any task, as I can imagine (but I’m not expert).

3. Passcode request on Airplane Mode

4. SIM Ejection Block
It’s enough to add some mechanical latch in SIM slot & let the SIM be ejected only by allowing in Carrier Settings. Through this change, depending on the mechanism, we can even get rid of hole on SIM slot and need for clip to change a SIM. At the same time it will make impossible for malefactor to eject SIM without damaging a device.
Unfortunately it can be done only in next iPhones. However, older device can track the moment when SIM is ejected & ask to Enter Passcode or TouchID in next… 10 seconds (it won’t be difficult for owner of the phone). Otherwise it starts to play loud sound (like in “Find My iPhone”, but perhaps a SOS signal), and stops to play only after you entered a right Passcode or inserted back the same SIM card. It will be more complicated for thief to get away from you and to avoid an attention of passers. It will not be superfluous to combine the signal with some extra low power mode.

5. SOS in wave-unattainable environment
Using GSM or some other module as a radar, iPhone potentially can determine, that it is in a Faraday cage and turn on the siren as well.
This option should be switchable, because some people use those cages purposefully.

These five options are not preventing your iPhone to be stolen AT ALL, but making a theft significantly harder, especially with “Find My iPhone”, now working to the full extent. Furthermore, without any difficulties for owners to use their device. And I think it’s worth it. 

Please make these changes to make iPhones even more secure than they are now.