At Danburg Properties of Boca Raton, we’ve blogged in the past about how we use our smart phones to run our business and stay in touch with our class-A office space, warehouse and industrial tenants from throughout Boca Raton and Palm Beach County. Technology is vital to all we do.

But according to the Boca Raton Polices Services Department, it’s also important that we keep our devices up to date and current with the latest versions of operating systems and software.

For example, Apple recently released updated iOS 7 software, available to both new and older Apple devices.  The Boca Raton Police Services Department recommends that all Apple owners upgrade to iOS 7 software. The new software provides upgraded security features designed to assist in the recovery of missing and stolen devices, as well as deter theft by rendering the devices useless.

The Find My iPhone feature helps you locate and protect your iPhone, iPad, iTouch, or Mac if it is lost or stolen by showing its location on a map, playing a sound to help you find it, tracking it from Lost Mode, or remotely erasing all personal information on the device.

With past versions of Find My iPhone, it would not work when the device was turned off. With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a new feature called Activation Lock, which is turned on automatically when you activate Find My iPhone. Activation Lock makes it harder for anyone to use or sell your Apple device if it is lost or stolen. With Activation Lock, your Apple ID and password are required before anyone can:

– Turn off Find My iPhone on your device
– Sign out of iCloud on your device
– Erase and reactivate your device

Activation Lock starts working the moment you turn on Find My iPhone in iOS 7. All you need to do is keep Find My iPhone turned on, and remember your Apple ID and password. When you enable Find My iPhone, your Apple ID is securely stored on Apple’s activation servers and linked to your device. To turn on Find My iPhone on your device go to: Settings, iCloud, sign in with Apple ID and turn on “Find my iPhone.”

If you ever misplace your device, you should put it into Lost Mode immediately using Find My iPhone. The screen will be locked with a four-digit passcode that you set up. Report your lost or stolen device to your local law enforcement agency immediately. Also, contact your wireless carrier, as they can suspend activation of your wireless phones.