Cell networks reject plans to install anti-theft "kill switch" in handsets

[Fanatical Meat]

from working in wireless this is a tricky question. The most effective way is to lock the sim card to the device but that makes switching phones harder. Keeping an IMEI registry could work but then there will be ways to spoof the network into thinking its a different phone, so it really wouldn't be a long term gain. The device manufacturers have been trying to figure out a lock mode but they are all afraid of that being defeated and a mass amount of phones being locked. This seems like a real simple thing to address but there can be many unintended consequences.

 

[spacejamz]

But that won't disable the phone forever, it'll just restore it to factory defaults, right?

Initially, I thought that this article would be about a KILL switch to permanently disable the phone if reported stolen.

However, if you read the article, it says

Gascón had approached four major network operators (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and Sprint) but all rejected the plan to install LoJack software on Samsung handsets before the devices are sold.

LoJack allows users to remotely track their smartphone from a computer or laptop, lock it to avoid unwanted access and even delete sensitive content remotely.

I think two different things are being mixed up here....This LOJACK type software is already part of Android, which is what I referenced...

 

[spacejamz]

I might be wrong but I don't think we're talking about remote wipe here. I think we are talking about making the phone completely useless upon theft. Thieves don't give a shit about wiping the phone...hell, most will do that anyway. They just want a working phone.

Seems like a phone that is stolen should be able to be placed on some sort of blacklist that stops it from working on ALL networks. Not sure why this isn't in place already.

I agree that implementing this would pretty much deter cell phone theft...

However, the KILL switch mentioned in the article is a remote wipe...My comments were based on the article...see my previous post...

 

[spacejamz]

This is even more hilarious that the carriers don't want LOJACK software installed on Samsung phones but it is already there, at least all of the newer ones...WTF???