Android Lollipop includes a kill switch, but there's a catch

[Shawn Knight]

There’s no shortage of new features packed into Android 5.0 Lollipop but one that’s certain to draw a lot of attention is the “kill switch.” Google’s new “factory reset protection” option is certainly a step in the right direction although one questionable decision means it’s far from a perfect solution.

Previous implementations of the kill switch in Android (through Android Device Manager) allow users to remotely lock and wipe their phone if it comes up missing or is stolen. The problem, however, is that there was little stopping a thief from performing a factory reset on a hot handset if it wasn’t passcode-protected.

The factory reset protection requires a Google ID and password before a handset can be reset. What’s more, it only works when a lockscreen passcode is enabled but Google missed the mark as the feature is still opt-in.

That means many won’t bother - or even know - to enable the feature and criminals will have a higher chance of stealing an unprotected phone. What’s more, it likely won’t pass muster in regard to California’s kill switch law that goes into effect next July.

In a joint statement on the matter, San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman pointed out that in order for these theft-deterrents to effectively end the epidemic, they must be enabled by default so violent criminals lack the incentive to steal smartphones.

The two said they would continue to encourage every actor in the smartphone industry – including Google – to take the necessary, additional step of ensuring this technology is opt-out on all devices.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/58485-android-lollipop-includes-kill-switch-but-there-catch.html

 

[Rippleman]

Only the "violent criminals"???

 

[hahahanoobs]

Rippleman please. That pic in the article SCREAMS violence, and you're just too blind to see it.

 

[Skidmarksdeluxe]

What's the use of a remote factory reset. I can already remotely perform a remote wipe and reset on my Jelly Bean phone anytime I choose.
What I wan't is to be able to do is kill the device completely, rendering it absolutely useless and unviable to resell if ever stolen. I can always replace the device, it is insured after all.

 

[tonylukac]

Another problem with kill switches is that when cops take phones as evidence, all evidence can be lost by remote wiping them. I'm selling and app which recovers stolen phones, so I should care. Have not sold a single one of those apps because three dollars is too expensive a price to pay, I guess. Have to charge that much because servers must be maintained the way google won't let you have their email password to send the email thru their smtp server. You can probably get it on rooted phones.

 

[Radient]

Why should this be automatic that means someone could just kill your phone remotely stupid stupid stupid idea to be on without the user knowing. This is what encryption is for.

 

[Radient]

What's the use of a remote factory reset. I can already remotely perform a remote wipe and reset on my Jelly Bean phone anytime I choose.
What I wan't is to be able to do is kill the device completely, rendering it absolutely useless and unviable to resell if ever stolen. I can always replace the device, it is insured after all.

Police already use faraday bags criminals will to like shoplifting purces aleady are doing. That to steal and bypass the rfid tags.

 

[lipe123]

This whole killswitch business is total BS.

I'm from South Africa where crime is practically 50% of GDP and we have a blacklist system on the imei's where if you report your phone stolen it cannot be used on any other carrier in South Africa.

Did that make a dent in cellphone robbery? not even close! Thieves are to stupid to care or they steal the phones simply for spare parts to repair broken screens etc.
Aslo you can always put any android phone in recovery mode and flash a custom rom on it bypassing any kinda killswitch technology.

The ONLY place you can effectively do this is at the carrier not at the handset. Did car alarms stop vehicle theft? or immobilizers or those silly steering wheel lock bars? No it did not.