Whistleblower Jun Lozada's offers cheap protection vs phone theft

A Filipino company launched on Wednesday a software that would disable a stolen smartphone and erase its data.

Developed by Galileo Software Services, Inc., TARA or Theft Alarm and Recovery Application is a telco-enabled service that has a "kill switch" feature that makes smartphones unusable by thieves and their resellers.

What makes TARA different from other kill switch applications is that it works even without Wi-Fi access, Internet data, or cellphone load.

Users can lock, unlock, locate and wipe out contents of their stolen phone with just a text message.

It also calls the attention to the thief with the alarm, "Magnanakaw! Magnanakaw!" when the phone is activated.

A back-up and restore feature, meanwhile, allows phone owners to back-up their contacts and restore features even on a different phone.

Galileo Software officials said users can also upgrade this feature to back-up stored photos, videos and other files.

Soon, mobile phone users can use the red button feature that will send an SOS message, with a time stamp and location, to one's emergency contact.

"We need to feel safe whenever we go out. This is why we developed TARA. It is like a seatbelt for your mobile phone," said Galileo Software president Rodolfo "Jun" Lozada, adding that it took the firm five years to develop the application at a cost of P120 million.

Lozada blew the whistle on the scuttled $329 million National Broadband Network-ZTE deal during the Arroyo administration.

To avail of TARA, android mobile phone users can download the app on Google Play to register their basic information.

After a free 30-day subscription, users are given the option to renew their protection with affordable rates of P15 weekly, P50 monthly and P500 yearly.

No need for kill switch law

At least 30 smartphones are lost every day to thieves, according to a 2014 report of the National Telecommunications Commission.

"When a person is a victim of mobile phone theft, it leaves him or her feeling helpless. It can be a traumatic experience where the victim often feels as if he has been violated," said Lozada.

He added that phone theft is one of the biggest problems in the global mobile consumer industry, a fact that was already acknowledged by Congress two years ago.

Ang Mata ay Alagaan Rep. Lorna Velasco authored House Bill 4511 or the proposed Kill Switch Phone Security Act of 2014 seeks to require cellphone network service providers to equip postpaid users with the kill switch software.

But the proposed measure is still pending before the House committee on information and communications technology.

Asked to comment if the country needs to pass a kill switch law just like in the United States, Lozada answered in the negative.

"Just allow the market forces to dictate. If they (cellular carriers) really believe there's value to it, then they will adopt it," he told reporters.

TARA is currently available for Smart and Sun Cellular subscribers but the company said it is planning to extend the service to iOs users within three to six months.

Galileo Software is also looking at introducing TARA to other developing countries in Africa and South Asia where android smartphone penetration stands at a minimum of 70 percent, Lozada said.

No timeline has been set on when it would be made available to smartphone users in those countries. — BAP, GMA News