Are NYPD on the Apple payroll? Cops hand out flyers urging people to upgrade their devices to iOS7 because it is 'safer'

Twitter images show flyer that the cops handed out on Saturday



Flyer urges people to upgrade for 'added security' to their devices

Cops ask people to register devices with their 'Operation Identification Program'

The iOS 7 security features include a Find My iPhone Activation Lock that asks for an Apple ID and a password before the feature can be disabled

It also promotes fingerprint recognition

New York police officers were handing out flyers to people around New York City on Saturday urging them to upgrade their devices to Apple's new iOS7 operating system.



NYPD's Public Awareness Notice promotes the software as giving 'added security to your devices'.

The NYPD notice also urges people to register their devices with their 'Operation Identification Program'.



One of those given a flyer was Michael Hoffman, who posted a picture on his Twitter account showing the paper from the police that was given to him at his subway stop.

Attention: NYPD are handing out flyers urging people to download Apple's new iOS7 software

His tweet says: 'Four uniformed NYPD officers were at my subway stop tonight asking me to upgrade to iOS 7. Not a joke!'

The message of the NYPD flyer reads: 'By downloading the new operating system, should your device get lost or stolen, it cannot be reprogrammed without an Apple ID or password.'

The police are referring to the new iOS 7 security features, which include a Find My iPhone Activation Lock that asks for an Apple ID and a password before the feature can be disabled.



If a phone is stolen, the thief can't stop the original owner from being able to locate it. It will also prevent people from deleting data from the handset.

The software also promotes security through fingerprint recognition.

Promotional campaign? NYPD police officers (not pictured here) say Apple's new operating system gives 'added security' to devices

Safety first: Police in New York say the new software can help people if their devices are stolen or lost

The new iPhone 5s has a built-in fingerprint scanner that reads a users' prints using the home button.



Touch ID replaces an App Store password when buying music, apps or books.



It uses a 'laser cut sapphire crystal' to take a high-res image scan and the Touch ID software in iOS 7 determines whether the print belongs to the owner or not.

Apple reassured users that the feature is secure by explaining 'all fingerprint information is encrypted and stored securely inside the device's chip' adding the prints are not stored on an Apple server, or backed up to iCloud.

According to one comment on Gawker, 'the NYPD getting the word out about iOS 7 is a GOOD THING for EVERYONE'.



'Less petty theft for the NYPD to be diverting resources to (they have a dedicated iPhone theft task force), less of your iPhones getting stolen. iPhone theft is a VERY well-documented problem in NYC,' said the person using the name, Jaro.



Apple customers worldwide have been able to download the company’s latest operating system since September 18.

It is being hailed as a new beginning for the firm.



Everything from email to the calendar, texts, phone keypad, photos and notes look and work differently on the software.



Importantly, traditional icons have been scrapped under the redesign masterminded by Apple's British design chief Sir Jonathan Ive.

Scroll down for video demo



Apple's iOS 7 software, right, has been designed to make the iPhone appear bigger, with features deliberately designed to take advantage of the entire screen. Text on iOS 7 appears sharper than on iOS 6, pictured left



Apple's iOS 7 software includes a new feature called Airdrop that lets users share photos, video and contacts simply by clicking share and selecting a fellow iOS 7 user from a contacts list

The new iOS 7 Control Centre, pictured, allows users to adjust settings and playback with just one swipe from the bottom of the screen

Ive introduced iOS 7 as an 'important new direction' when he showcased the software at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco earlier this year.

The operating system has a cleaner look than its predecessors and has been described by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook as 'the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone.'

Its launch last week coincides with the release of two new iPhones which went on sale on Friday.

Apple's iPhone 5S is a high-end model that has a fingerprint scanner built into the phone's home button.

It also comes with a 64-bit chip designed to make switching between apps and using the handset and software smoother and faster.



Apple's iOS 7 has been designed to make the iPhone appear bigger.

Its features are deliberately designed to take advantage of the entire screen on iPhones and iPads.



This has been criticised as Apple's attempt to rival phones with larger, five-inch and upward screens including Samsung's Galaxy S4 and the Note 3.



Text on iOS 7 appears sharper, while a Control Centre on the phone allows users to adjust settings with just one swipe from of the screen.