4 ms·

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer cont

by least 3y ago

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely. Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really anything stopping Apple from locking people's devices, either. I just feel like "self hosting" isn't a real company solution to a kill switch, so I'm not sure how you have a kill switch without interacting with the company in any way, even if you're not John Deere.

artogahr 3y ago
At that scale it should be trivial to self host a server with a static IP that confirms the ownership. Make the server IP on the tractor password protected or smth. Modern tractors are internet connected anyway.
- lancesells 3y ago
  > trivial to self host a server Trivial for who? Someone on HN or everyone else?
notjulianjaynes 3y ago
I had it in my head that a new John Deere tractor costs about $400 thousand but I just did a very quick search and I'm seeing closer to $1 million for a combine. At this price point I don't see IT logistics being a huge barrier to a customer controlled kill switch. Edit: wording
- tough 3y ago
  In apple's case don't bad people unlock locked devices by spoofing the servers anyways?
- RecycledEle 3y ago
  I expect some farmers would buy another brand of $1M harvester to avoid dealing with IT headaches.
jtxt 3y ago
- User setup geo fence. - Requires connection to phone, nfc, other radio signal... - and/or other deadman switch ideas...
forgotmypw17 3y ago
My Apple device was locked without ever being reported stolen. Just happened one day. It is an older iPad which belonged to family member who has passed on and has a bunch of photos and notes on it. I was a fool to provide that device for them to use no matter how convenient it was at the time.
donmcronald 3y ago
> I just feel like "self hosting" isn't a real company solution to a kill switch, so I'm not sure how you have a kill switch without interacting with the company in any way, even if you're not John Deere. You can’t have any (online) interaction with the company. Even OTA updates can’t be trusted if the company wants to act against your interests or the interests of your country. Individual farmers need 100% control and I would argue that the only way to accomplish that is to require physical access for all updates and no kill switch at all. Tractors aren’t close to cell phones. No one is naively and unknowingly buying a stolen tractor off of Craigslist. Engraving serial numbers on parts is a viable theft deterrent if everyone in the industry refuses to buy stolen parts.

by least 3y ago

artogahr 3y ago

At that scale it should be trivial to self host a server with a static IP that confirms the ownership. Make the server IP on the tractor password protected or smth. Modern tractors are internet connected anyway.

lancesells 3y ago
> trivial to self host a server Trivial for who? Someone on HN or everyone else?

notjulianjaynes 3y ago

I had it in my head that a new John Deere tractor costs about $400 thousand but I just did a very quick search and I'm seeing closer to $1 million for a combine. At this price point I don't see IT logistics being a huge barrier to a customer controlled kill switch. Edit: wording

tough 3y ago
In apple's case don't bad people unlock locked devices by spoofing the servers anyways?
RecycledEle 3y ago
I expect some farmers would buy another brand of $1M harvester to avoid dealing with IT headaches.

jtxt 3y ago

- User setup geo fence. - Requires connection to phone, nfc, other radio signal... - and/or other deadman switch ideas...

forgotmypw17 3y ago

My Apple device was locked without ever being reported stolen. Just happened one day. It is an older iPad which belonged to family member who has passed on and has a bunch of photos and notes on it. I was a fool to provide that device for them to use no matter how convenient it was at the time.

donmcronald 3y ago

> I just feel like "self hosting" isn't a real company solution to a kill switch, so I'm not sure how you have a kill switch without interacting with the company in any way, even if you're not John Deere. You can’t have any (online) interaction with the company. Even OTA updates can’t be trusted if the company wants to act against your interests or the interests of your country. Individual farmers need 100% control and I would argue that the only way to accomplish that is to require physical access for all updates and no kill switch at all. Tractors aren’t close to cell phones. No one is naively and unknowingly buying a stolen tractor off of Craigslist. Engraving serial numbers on parts is a viable theft deterrent if everyone in the industry refuses to buy stolen parts.