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Smartphone Theft Drops After Spread of Kill Switches

Posted by Soulskill on from the stated-purposes-and-unstated-purposes dept.

alphadogg writes "Thefts involving smartphones have declined dramatically in three major cities since manufacturers began implementing 'kill switches' that allow the phones to be turned off remotely if they are stolen, authorities said on Tuesday. The number of stolen iPhones dropped by 40 percent in San Francisco and 25 percent in New York in the 12 months after Apple added a kill switch to its devices in September 2013. In London, smartphone theft dropped by half, according to an announcement by officials in the three cities.

3 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Remember the down side by MetalliQaZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Remember the primary concern when these laws were proposed. As soon as criminals discover a way to maliciously activate the kill switch on a non-stolen phone, there will be serious fallout. Imagine the ransomware. There are similar concerns with law enforcement, who have demonstrated a desire to be able to wipe or forever disable a phone they've confiscated (usually one documenting their misdeeds).

    --
    "Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
    1. Re:Remember the down side by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Remember the primary concern when these laws were proposed. As soon as criminals discover a way to maliciously activate the kill switch on a non-stolen phone, there will be serious fallout. Imagine the ransomware. There are similar concerns with law enforcement, who have demonstrated a desire to be able to wipe or forever disable a phone they've confiscated (usually one documenting their misdeeds).

      While it might be difficult to prove, tell me again how this would not be construed as destruction of evidence in every legal way?

      Oh yeah, that's right. Law Enforcement did it. I forgot they don't actually have to abide by the laws they enforce upon the rest of us...silly me.

  2. Re:well duh... by Rosyna · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Citation of a smartphone remote kill switch being abused? Especially one that, like iOS, is triggered on an erase and is only based on the owner's credentials for unlocking?