Smartphone kill switch explained

Smartphone kill switch should not be confused with Hardware kill switch.

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

Smartphones have high resale value, and are therefore often the target of theft, with thieves selling them to cartels for resale. 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. 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

• 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

• International Mobile Equipment Identity

Notes and References

1. Web site: 10 things to know about the smartphone kill switch. 24 June 2014. PCWORLD. en. 2019-01-15.
2. Web site: Smartphone 'kill switch' law takes effect in California. Nieva. Richard. 1 July 2015. CNET. en. 2019-01-15.
3. Web site: Kill switch proposals finally force wireless industry's hand. 2014-04-17. PCWorld. en. 2019-01-15.
4. Web site: Cellphone kill switches kill cellphone snatchers . Claburn . Thomas . 28 Jul 2017 . www.theregister.co.uk. en. 2019-01-15.
5. Web site: Smartphone Kill Switch: What It Is, How It Might Work. 14 May 2014. Tom's Guide. en. 2019-01-15.
6. Web site: SECURE OUR SMARTPHONES. San Francisco District attorney. en. 2019-01-15.
7. Web site: Secure Our Smartphones Initiative Members New York State Attorney General. ag.ny.gov. 2019-01-15.
8. Web site: Citizens Crime Commission of New York City Cybercrime. www.nycrimecommission.org. 2019-01-15.