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Here are things we know, and that we have known since the "kill switch" was first proposed: 1. Criminals/thieves will be able to circumvent/disable the kill sw
by rsync 12y ago
Here are things we know, and that we have known since the "kill switch" was first proposed:
1. Criminals/thieves will be able to circumvent/disable the kill switch, trivially, within weeks (days ?) of the introduction. Stolen phones will still have value, and theft will continue. Bank on it.
2. The kill switch will be used against legitimate users.
3. Phone manufacturers, who were against the kill switch, will find a hidden value in tying the kill switch to rooting, and using kill switch laws to impede rooting activities. If it's illegal to de-kill-switch, but legal to root, all you need to do is make it impossible to root with the kill switch in place. Presto!
- ctdonath 12y agoUnrestricted radios are widely available and easy to build.
- DSMan195276 12y agoOne, not all criminals who steal phones know anything about using a phone, and unless there's a guarantee that the kill switch is actually disabled nobodies going to take that chance of buying it off of you. It also makes the process more time consuming and error-prone, and seeing as the kill-switch is something someone can do right after they realize their phone is stolen, it'd be on a limited time basis. It makes the entire thing less worth it. Two, it says RIGHT IN THE BILL that the phones are required to have an opt-out and disable feature, and they have to prompt the user to enable or disable when the phone is first setup, with the option to enable or disable at any later time. Instead of spreading FUD, read the actual bill.