I would think this would work, Brigid. Check out the web site, and remember to scroll down a little, and also click forward to the next installment in the article.

"securing the mobile unit in the event of loss or theft"

It refers to things which can be done (in your text, done automatically within the phone itself, possibly: e.g. locking down, passwording, protecting sensitive data, etc.) to make the damage to the owner minimal. So your idea of neutralising is correct, I just don't think that that's a broadly used term for the function.

Not to be confused with the hits on Google about securing the phone on the dashboard so it doesn't fly around the car when you corner!!

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