Wireless industry commits to new measures for security and privacy

CHICAGO (WLS) -- There are new commitments from wireless providers and the group which represents them. The industry is reassuring customers that phones will have tools to make them more secure and protect your privacy.

The Wireless Association in Washington D.C. says that reports of smartphones thefts in the U.S. are down, partially because of a 20 percent increase in people using the password feature and thus making it harder for a crook to access your personal information.

Even more theft deterrents are on the way. Almost 20 wireless providers and smartphone manufacturers have agreed that all new models of phones made after July 2015 will have an anti-theft tool either pre-loaded or downloadable, much like the Find my iPhone app the tools could lock and remotely wipe data if the phone is lost or stolen. The technology would also prevent reactivation of the phone.

The agreement also says that phones made after July 2016 will allow users to disable the built-in tool and use another one app of their choice.

In February 2014, the I-Team followed the stolen smartphone trail after a rash of thefts, some with deadly outcomes. Chicago police detectives issued citations to stores selling phones without the proper documentation.

Police told the I-Team some criminals sell stolen phones to smaller independent stores, but that 90 percent of them were going to Hong Kong and selling for as much as $2,000 each.

Once a phone is reported stolen it typically cannot be activated in the U.S. and is blacklisted. If you are buying a used phone, always ask the seller for the phone's equipment identifier number, then ask police or your mobile carrier if that number is on that stolen phone list before purchasing the used phone.