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Industry-Wide Smartphone "Kill Switch" Closer To Reality

Posted by samzenpus on from the blow-it-up dept.

mpicpp (3454017) writes "The 'kill switch,' a system for remotely disabling smartphones and wiping their data, will become standard in 2015, according to a pledge backed by most of the mobile world's major players. Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft, along with the five biggest cellular carriers in the United States, are among those that have signed on to a voluntary program announced Tuesday by the industry's largest trade group. All smartphones manufactured for sale in the United States after July 2015 must have the technology, according to the program from CTIA. Advocates say the feature would deter thieves from taking mobile devices by rendering phones useless while allowing people to protect personal information if their phone is lost or stolen. Its proponents include law enforcement officials concerned about the rising problem of smartphone theft."

3 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yay for government!!! by Tuidjy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wonder how easy it will be for someone unauthorized to force a cellphone off the air. And how easy it will be to get someone authorized to do it through social engineering.

    I just hope that however they implement it, they make sure that emergency calls can still be made.

    --
    No good deed goes unpunished...
  2. You can bet NSA has the keys by Darth+Muffin · · Score: 4, Interesting
    The NSA is why this is a bad idea. Once this is in, I'll bet you'll start seeing this used by the govt. First at Boston Bombing type events, then later at demonstrations like Occupy Wallstreet, and then wherever the president happens to be touring at the moment.

    What would the govt of some place like Egypt have given for a phone kill switch?

    --
    Real programmers use "copy con program.exe"
  3. Re:Yay for government!!! by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It is a royal pain in the ass to get a IMEI blacklisted. I had to fight AT&T even though I sent them the police report and the phone was in their records as my property.
    "But it's currently activated" Yes, by the thief, blacklist it.
    "but that is one of our gophone customers", Yes the thief blacklist it.
    "but but....." Do I need to get a lawyer involved?
    "One moment please...."

    99% will not force them to blacklist the phone but just let it go. To hell with who they sold the phone to, I was not going to stop until the phone was forever disabled from being a phone.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.