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Apple Patents Remotely Disabling Jailbroken Phones

Posted by Soulskill on from the trying-to-put-the-break-in-jailbreak dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Apple yesterday applied for a patent to allow remotely disabling electronic devices when 'unauthorized usage' is detected. The patent application covers using the camera to take pictures of the unauthorized user and using GPS to determine location, and it involves ascertaining whether the phone has been hacked or jailbroken, using those as criteria for detecting 'suspicious behavior.' The patent would allow the carrier or any other 'authorized' party to disable or restrict the functionality of the device. Is this Apple's latest tool to thwart jailbreaking?"

4 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. FUD by ViViDboarder · · Score: 4, Informative

    Reading this it becomes instantly apparent that "unauthorized use" is referring to users of stolen devices.

    Jailbreaking is already legal. What use would it be to take a photo of a jailbroken user?

    Theft is not legal. It would be VERY useful to have a photo of the user of a stolen device.

  2. Re:Just because it's patented... by beelsebob · · Score: 5, Informative

    The headline is massively misleading, they've patented remotely disabling devices that the device has detected has been stolen, not jailbroken phones.

    Stupid slashdot is stupid^H^H^H^H^H filled with anti-apple trolls.

  3. No, but thanks for playing by sammy+baby · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Apple yesterday applied for patent to allow remotely disabling electronic devices when 'unauthorized usage' is detected. The patent application covers using the camera to take pictures of the unauthorized user and using GPS to determine location, and it involves ascertaining whether the phone has been hacked or jailbroken, using that as criteria for detecting 'suspicious behavior.' The patent would allow the carrier or any other 'authorized' party to disable or restrict the functionality of the device. Is this Apple's latest tool to thwart jailbreaking?"

    This is why we should be able to rate stories -1 Troll.

    Nothing in the linked article references jailbreaking. This looks way more like remote disabling for stolen phones - the same way that OnStar customers can call to say that their car has been stolen.

    The specific means of identifying whether or not the current user is the one who is supposed to be operating the device is discussed, and in that context:

    The method of [identifying a particular activity indicating a suspicious behavior], wherein the particular activity comprises one or more of hacking the electronic device, jailbreaking the electronic device, unlocking the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, and moving at least a predetermined distance away from a synced device.

    So in other words, if someone steals your iPhone, they won't be able to thwart anti-theft devices by jailbreaking your phone or yanking the SIM.

  4. Re:Just because it's patented... by Low+Ranked+Craig · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mod parent up. I read the patent (shock!) and he is right. http://www.patentvest.com/console/reports/docs/app/20100207721.html This whole post is a flamebait post.

    --
    I still cannot find the droids I am looking for...