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Microsoft is adding a kill switch to Windows Phone

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    Microsoft is adding a kill switch to Windows Phone

    Potentially to "render a stolen device permanently unusable... ...to give stolen devices the value of a paperweight"

    ...what could possibly go wrong?

    BBC News - Android and Windows to get 'kill switch'

    #2
    You mean the thing iPhone already has, which hasn't led to massive problems?
    Originally posted by MaryPoppins
    I'd still not breastfeed a nazi
    Originally posted by vetran
    Urine is quite nourishing

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by d000hg View Post
      You mean the thing iPhone already has, which hasn't led to massive problems?
      Two things:

      1. This is will be based on Microsoft technology and not NeXT.
      2. The Apple kill switch can be bypassed by a factory reset (and so it is essentially useless).
      Last edited by wonderboy; 20 June 2014, 10:24.

      Comment


        #4
        So Cryptolocker will shortly be arriving on smartphones
        Doing the needful since 1827

        Comment


          #5
          oh dear, this will be exploited at the first chance....
          "pay me $10000 BTC or I'll wipe all your phones"

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by amcdonald View Post
            So Cryptolocker will shortly be arriving on smartphones
            Reading the Wikipedia article on this trojan. I love the fact that a newer variant was released by the creator with the ransom adjusted down "to reflect the fluctuating value of Bitcoin".

            CryptoLocker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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              #7
              If its an immobiliser that can be reset by returning to a dealer it will work like car keys (until someone builds a tool to reset but hopefully that will be after the phone's value has fallen).

              A new theory of crime: Driven down | The Economist
              Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by vetran View Post
                If its an immobiliser that can be reset by returning to a dealer it will work like car keys (until someone builds a tool to reset but hopefully that will be after the phone's value has fallen).

                A new theory of crime: Driven down | The Economist
                Actually the failure-mode I was thinking of was simply someone hacking the system and issuing an ecosystem-wide kill command. At that point, the fact you can return your phone to a dealer becomes moot.
                Last edited by wonderboy; 20 June 2014, 10:21.

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                  #9
                  You can easily stop crypto locker or other malware affecting your phone by keeping it wrapped in tinfoil.
                  bloggoth

                  If everything isn't black and white, I say, 'Why the hell not?'
                  John Wayne (My guru, not to be confused with my beloved prophet Jeremy Clarkson)

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by wonderboy View Post
                    Actually the failure-mode I was thinking of was simply someone hacking the system and issuing an ecosystem-wide kill command. At that point, the fact you can return your phone to a dealer becomes moot.
                    indeed it does, however the sensible thing to do is to make the networks support it with commands normal people can't use. I expect Microsoft will think of such things, they hire some bright kids.

                    I'm assuming it would be linked to IMEI, subscriber and serial / phone number so any hacker would need all for each phone.
                    Last edited by vetran; 20 June 2014, 11:04.
                    Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.

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