California "Kill-Switch" Bill Heading to Governor
Although Apple, Google and a number of phone makers have agreed to implement a kill switch in smartphones and tablets, California is pushing to make this feature a required component. The bill passed in the Senate with a 27 to 8 vote on Monday and is now heading to Governor Jerry Brown's office for his seal of approval.
Earlier this year, Consumer Reports said that 3.1 million smartphones were stolen in 2013, which is close to double the number of devices stolen in the year before. The organization also said that around 1.4 million smartphones were misplaced and not recovered, slightly more than the number of lost phones in the year before.
"Our survey revealed that the number of lost and stolen smart phones is on the rise, and too many smart-phone users are needlessly imperiling their personal data by not taking basic security measures," said Glenn Derene, Electronics Editor, Consumer Reports.
A good way for consumers to protect their information is to use a screen lock with a 4-digit pin number. If you're on Android, you can set up Android Device Manager to locate the device via GPS (if that's enabled), send a "ring" command, lock the device or erase all data. On iOS devices, sign in to icloud.com/#find with your Apple ID and click "All Devices." Can't find the device? Choose Lost Mode or Erase iPhone.
According to Consumer Reports, 34 percent of those surveyed are not taking measures to secure their phones. Only 22 percent have installed software that can locate the device, and only 14 percent installed an antivirus app. Only 7 percent used security features other than the screen lock. With all that said, it's no wonder the government is trying to establish a kill-switch law.
If the Governor does approve the current bill, special software for remotely disabling a lost device will be a required feature on all smartphones manufactured after July 2015 and sold in the state. The CTIA, which has represented the wireless communications industry since 1985, doesn't support the bill and is urging the Governor not to sign it.
Jamie Hastings, vice president of external and state affairs for the CTIA, told CNET that lower consumer costs and "phenomenal" innovation in the wireless industry is made possible by uniformity across the entire industry. "State by state technology mandates, such as this one, stifle those benefits and are detrimental to wireless consumers," she added.
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With a kill-switch already in place on Android and iOS devices, and backed by device makers like Samsung, do consumers really need a law to enforce the issue? California seems to think so.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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mavikt Hmm, any innovators out there; How about a wearable ring (perhaps a smart watch?) with a sort of RFID tag that would securely unlock your phone when you pick it up... I could use that! Okay so, prior art established => Eat that apple :-)Reply -
NightLight ReplyHmm, any innovators out there; How about a wearable ring (perhaps a smart watch?) with a sort of RFID tag that would securely unlock your phone when you pick it up... I could use that! Okay so, prior art established => Eat that apple :-)
I'm patenting that :p
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RCguitarist This is a lame use of the phrase "kill switch". Erasing your personal data isnt going to stop the rise in theft. People who steal phones dont care about your data, they want to sell your phone for cash. A real kill switch that would fry the electronics inside your phone would be better as it would render the phone worthless to a thief.Reply -
John Wittenberg Yep - a real kill switch should brick the phone making it useless and worth only a few parts for resale for use in repairs. This would almost make stealing a phone pointless. Of course, trying to safeguard that feature from hackers would be *almost* impossible.Reply -
John Wittenberg Yep - a real kill switch should brick the phone making it useless and worth only a few parts for resale for use in repairs. This would almost make stealing a phone pointless. Of course, trying to safeguard that feature from hackers would be *almost* impossible.Reply -
helper800 "California a state in such dire need to drop off into the ocean."Reply
Don't worry in the next couple hundred thousand years California will get a large peninsula and eventually break off into an island.
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damric I was hoping the "killswitch" actually killed the thief by stabbing, poisoning, or electrocution. THIS IS SO LAME.Reply -
rantoc And in later news hackers did a nice prank wih the killswitch and made life worse for millions of peoople...Reply -
virtualban This is a way to open the road to government implemented/tested mandatory app for the kill switch, which, you know, NSA yada yada, but true despite so blatant.Reply