Samsung Galaxy S5 gets reset lock to deter thieves

Samsung Electronics will add two safeguards to its latestsmartphonein an effort to deter rampant theft of the mobile devices.

The world's largest mobile-phone maker said users will be able to activate for free its "Find My Mobile" and "Reactivation Lock" anti-theft features to protect the GalaxyS5, which goes on sale Friday.

The features that will lock the phone if there's an unauthorized attempt to reset it will be available both in Canada and the U.S. Rogers Wireless has confirmed its customers will have access to the features.

"Samsung takes the issue ofsmartphonetheft very seriously, and we are continuing to enhance our security and anti-theft solutions," Samsungsaid in a statement.

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The announcement cameas U.S. law enforcement officials such as San Francisco District Attorney GeorgeGascon, New York Attorney General EricSchneidermandemanded that manufacturers create kill switches to combat surgingsmartphonetheft across the U.S.

• 'Kill switch bill' for stolen, lost smartphones proposed in U.S.

Earlier this week, California legislators introduced a bill that, if passed, would require mobile devices sold in or shipped in the state be equipped with the anti-theft devices starting next year a move that could be the first of its kind in the United States. Similar legislation is being considered in New York, Illinois, Minnesota, and bills have been introduced in both houses of Congress.

In July, Samsung officials toldGascon'soffice that the major carriers were resisting using kill switches. However,GasconandSchneidermansaid in a joint statement Friday that Samsung's latest move sends a strong message that the wireless industry can work together to make consumers safe. The prosecutors have given the manufacturers a June deadline to find solutions to curbsmartphonetheft.

"More work needs to be done to ensure that these solutions come standard on every device, but these companies have done the right thing by responding to our call for action," the prosecutors said. "No family should lose a mother, a father, a son or a daughter for their phone. Manufacturers and carriers need to put public safety before corporate profits and stop this violent epidemic, which has put millions ofsmartphoneusers at risk."

Similar to Apple feature

Apple created a similar "activation lock" feature for the popular iPhone last year.

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Almost one in three U.S. robberies involve phone theft, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Lost and stolen mobile devices mostlysmartphones cost consumers more than $30 billion US in 2012, the agency said in a study.

CTIA-TheWireless Association, a trade group for wireless providers, has said a permanent kill switch has serious risks, including potential vulnerability to hackers who could disable mobile devices and lock out not only individuals' phones but also phones used by entities such as the Department ofDefense, Homeland Security and law enforcement.

The association created a national stolen phone database last year to remove any market for stolensmartphones.