The CyanogenMod team today announced that it will offer its users an option to create a CyanogenMod account. The team is taking this decision in order to provide a better user experience to its users, and offer some new and advanced features. 

The completely optional CM account will provide CyanogenMod users with access to a completely encrypted end-to-end anti-theft service, similar to Android Device Manager, that will allow them to find their misplaced phones or remotely wipe it. This account will also help in Secure SMS, CyanogenMod’s team own messaging service, along with integration with their forums.

The service will be managed by the CM team, but with some very strict measures in place. The whole service will be encrypted, and no one apart from the user itself will have access to their data or can use the remote location tracking feature. The code for the above services are already present on the CM’s github so that all privacy and security freaks can review it. The team also plans on keep adding new features down the line.

The CyanogenMod team has also announced another major change today. The team will shift to a dual release practice. The team will release a “user” branch based build that will ship with the CM team’s own private key for better security. However, for all the developers, the team will also release “developer” builds signed with test_keys from the Android SDK for all their hackability and tinkering needs.

Since these are some major changes, the CM team won’t be making them available in the nightly instantly. The team will flip the switch only after it has garnered enough feedback from the community.