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U.S. carriers stopped Samsung from including a kill switch in phones to deter theft

phone theft (shutterstock riopatuca)
Image used with permission by copyright holder

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon has said five major US mobile networks have blocked a proposal to install a “Kill switch” on newly sold smartphones, which could render the hardware useless in the event of a theft. The proposed installation of Absolute LoJack software was put forward by Samsung, with Gascon’s backing, but it was rejected due to concerns over – ironically – security. The networks named are AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular, all of whom were against LoJack’s software coming ready to go on Samsung’s phones, according to the Associated Press.

Absolute’s software helps you and law enforcement locate a stolen smartphone, lock it remotely, and finally delete stored data. Cleverly, LoJack still operates even after a factory reset. Samsung has been working with Absolute for a while, and has installed the software on several phones already.

However, in a series of emails between Samsung and the above networks, examined by Gascon, the company was told it needed to be removed as a standard feature. It still exists on some phones, but users must activate and pay the subscription costs themselves. It’s not clear whether Samsung would cover the subscription fee for a set period, should LoJack be enabled as standard.

Gascon says he’s, “Incensed” by the network’s refusal to implement LoJack’s system, calling it a solution which could, “End the victimization of their customers.” So what’s the problem? According to the CTIA Wireless Association, it’s security, as there is a risk hackers could gain access to the system and maliciously disable phones. Gascon has a different view, saying the implementation of a kill switch cancels out the need for device insurance, a lucrative revenue stream for some networks.

Samsung says it’s continuing to work with carriers and DA Gascon, who has been championing mobile kill switches for a while, to find a suitable solution.

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Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
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