A smartphone kill switch is a software-based[1] security feature that allows a smartphone's owner to remotely render it inoperable if it is lost or stolen, thereby deterring theft. There have been a number of initiatives to legally require kill switches on smartphones.
Background and implementation[edit]
Smartphones have high resale value, and are therefore often the target of theft, with thieves selling them to cartels for resale.[2] A kill switch can deter theft by making devices worthless.
In the United States, Minnesota was the first state to pass a bill requiring smartphones to have such a feature, and California was the first to require that the feature be turned on by default.[2] The California law requires the kill switch to be resistant to reinstallation of the phone's operating system.[1] The CTIA initially resisted the legislation, fearing that it would make phones easier to hack, but later supported kill switches.[3] There is evidence that this legislation has been effective, with smartphone theft declining by 50% between 2013 and 2017 in San Francisco.[4]
Secure Our Smartphones (S.O.S.), a New York State and San Francisco initiative started by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón.[5][6] The initiative is co-chaired by Schneiderman, Gascón and Boris Johnson, and has 105 members.[7][8]
Examples[edit]
- An Android phones signed into a Google account can be remotely locked and erased via Google's Find My Device service, as long as it is connected to the Internet. To prevent this, a thief must sign the device out of Google before the owner locks or erases it. iPhones have a similar service.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "10 things to know about the smartphone kill switch". PCWORLD. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ a b Nieva, Richard (1 July 2015). "Smartphone 'kill switch' law takes effect in California". CNET. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ "Kill switch proposals finally force wireless industry's hand". PCWorld. 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ Claburn, Thomas (28 Jul 2017). "Cellphone kill switches kill cellphone snatchers". www.theregister.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ "Smartphone Kill Switch: What It Is, How It Might Work". Tom's Guide. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ "SECURE OUR SMARTPHONES". San Francisco District attorney. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ "Secure Our Smartphones Initiative Members | New York State Attorney General". ag.ny.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ "Citizens Crime Commission of New York City | Cybercrime". www.nycrimecommission.org. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
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