9 years ago
2
Android and Windows add 'kill switch'
Google and Microsoft will add a "kill-switch" feature to their Android and Windows phone operating systems. Authorities have been urging tech firms to take steps to help curb phone theft and argued that a kill-switch feature can help resolve the problem. The move by Google and Microsoft means that kill switches will now be a part of the 3 most popular phone operating systems in the world.
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http://www.bbc.com
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Even thought its a slippery slope, I'm actually a bit happy that this is happening. I really hope it will curb theft by a significant amount. People have literally died trying to stop thieves from stealing their phones...
I hope one day all hand-portable electronics have this as a standard feature in the future. Go ahead, break in and steal my shit. Everything you walk away with will suicide the next time you plug it in and will be worthless.
Of course there's a slippery slope of used device sales that should be addressed, but I really like that idea.
Until then, there are stopgap measures like Prey Project.