Find My iPhone, also known as "Find iPhone" on the springboard and also specifically known on the other devices as Find My iPod, Find My iPad, or Find My Mac; is an application and service provided by Apple Inc. that allows tracking of remote location of iDevices.
You take your devices almost everywhere, which means at times you might leave it anywhere. With the help of Find My iPhone, there are chances that they won't be lost for long. But if your device is stolen, it is important to deactivate and erase your device. With iOS 7 or later, when Find My iPhone is turned on, your device can't be reactivated without entering the owner's Apple ID details. It's a good idea to either supervise your organization's devices or have a policy in place for users to disable the feature so that Find My iPhone doesn't prevent your organization from assigning the device to another individual. Although, the application is not bundled with the OS itself, but it is available to download from the App Store, for iOS devices running iOS 5.0 through iOS 8 or later in future.
~ It consists of four key features;
1) Lock Your Screen.
- If your iDevice goes missing, you must put it in Lost Mode immediately.
- To restrict anyone else from accessing your data and important information, enter a four digit passcode.
2) Display a Message.
- You can display your contact number and even a custom message on your missing device's lock screen.
- Now, if someone finds your iPhone can directly contact you from your device, without having access to rest of your data or information.
3) Get Notified.
- Find My iPhone will send you Emails regarding your actions.
- It will also notify you the status of your device.
4) Track Location.
- While your device is in Lost Mode, It can keep track of where it's been over last 24 hours.
- You can either use the Find My iPhone application or just log in to iCloud.com to track its location on a map.
~ Activation Lock.Activation Lock is designed to restrict anyone from using your iDevice if you ever lose your device. It starts working since you turn on Find My iPhone. From then onwards, your Apple ID and password are necessarily required before anyone can turn off Find My iPhone, erase your iDevice or reactivate it. This can help you to keep your information secure even if it's in the wrong hands.
~ Remote Erase.
At times, it is better to be safe than sorry. If you are worried that your device has fallen into wrong hands, you may initiate a remote wipe to delete all your personal information and data and restore your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac to its factory settings. Even after your device has been erased, Find My iPhone will continue to display your customised message. And if you retrieve your iDevice, you can restore it through your iCloud backup.