The unlucky thief that tries to steal an Android phone equipped with this app will unwittingly create a mugshot while committing their crime. Lookout Mobile Security, predominantly an anti-virus app, has added a new feature that has the web talking today.
It's called the "Lock Cam," by Lookout, and like many anti-theft apps already out there, it locks your phone if you alert the app remotely that the phone has been stolen. The new feature, currently only available on Android, discretely takes a picture using the front facing camera if a thief tries to figure out the unlock code and enters in the wrong one three times.
The app then emails that picture to your default email account, if the phone has access to a data connection -- giving you a clue to who might have stolen your phone, as well as evidence you can give to the police. Of course, this can all be foiled with a well-placed thumb, but it's a pretty cool idea nonetheless.
As well as taking a picture of the person trying to unlock your phone, the app also allows you to add a message to the lockscreen. Lookout's app also has other anti-theft and lost phone features, such as a map-enabled locate feature, remote-enabled alarm, data backup, and data wipe.
"Smartphones have become one of our most personal and valuable possessions, so it's understandable that we want to protect them from prying eyes," said co-founder of Lookout Kevin Mahaffrey.
"We are committed to helping people keep their private information just that -- private. We also understand the emotional and financial impact of lost and stolen phones, which is why we offer a number of features that help people recover their smartphone."
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