With thefts of iPods, iPhones and other technological gadgets escalating worldwide, Apple might have an answer to help curb those thefts in the shape of a ‘kill switch’. This would allow Apple to disable an iPod remotely so that it couldn’t be used, meaning the appeal for thieves to steal them wouldn’t be so strong.

Currently Apple requests private information from the user whenever they purchase something through iTunes, so that they can tie an iPod to an individual. This has obvious data protection problems, with Apple knowing an awful lot of information about the iPod user, but the advantages could be worth the risks.

With many iPods reported stolen every year, Apple could block the iPods from buying or updating their music from iTunes if they were supplied with the serial number. Apple would, in theory, also be able to track the location of the stolen iPod by identifying the IP address of the computer that was accessing iTunes.

Apple refused to comment on whether they had this technology available to them at present. However, Apple supremo, Steve Jobs, announced the ‘kill switch’ technology with the last version of the iPod, which allows any malicious or harmful application on an iPod to be ‘terminated’ if deemed harmful.

Many experts argue that if Apple has this technology, they should be able to kill the iPod as well, if it is reported stolen.

The real problem may be the cost of such an exercise though, as there have been over 100 million iPods sold since 2001.

Josh Martin is a consumer electronics analyst:

“This type of security is probably not the top priority for Apple. While securing data is important, the fear of theft is ever-present. While Apple has done a bit on the ‘remote kill’ side on the iPhone, it was not done with the intention of securing data if a device is lost or stolen. I don’t see Apple, or anyone for that matter, being able to create a solution to someone looking to steal.”