Several months ago I wrote a relatively minor article about the twilight of modern mobile security and the introduction of futuristic security measures that would possibly be connected to a person’s unique biorhythms. At that time it was rumoured that Apple was looking to patent a cardio monitoring system for the iPhone, a security measure that would scan the users heart rate and compare it to the one on file.
While presumably such a device is still in the works for Apple, the tech giant has taken things one step further and submitted a patent application for a companion kill switch for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad; ostensibly giving the company—and your wireless carrier—the power to remotely shutdown your mobile device should it fall into the wrong hands or be used for unauthorized or illegitimate reasons.
Sounds great right? Well actually not really. Not only does connecting a mobile device to one’s physiology in this way give me reason for concern, the fact that Apple has developed its own list of illegitimate uses means, quite simply, that if you do something with your phone that Apple doesn’t like, you’ll lose control of the device entirely.
Want to legally jailbreak your iPhone? Think again sport.
The reality of today’s mobile world is that mobile OS manufacturers like Apple, Google, and others have a fair bit of control over what you can run on your phone. Should they want to, these companies can, at any time, remotely reach into your phone and delete apps that they deem unacceptable. While there has always been a steady outcry against such policing, this new patent application looks like Apple wants to take the whole game one step further.
For its part, the application, innocently titled, ”Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device,” filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office covers both the possible development of a remote kill-switch and additional measures for identifying unauthorized users. The former, according to Apple’s application, would be a security measure covering a wide range of illegitimate uses, including “hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking, or removal of a SIM card.”
The latter, tying into my previous story about cardio monitoring, describes possible security measures including “a photograph of the current user…a recording of the current user’s voice…[and] the heartbeat of the current user… or any combination of the above.”
Although the addition of some useful—and not to mention technologically advanced—security measures may be welcomed by some in the mobile world, I am not one of them. Not only would I feel a little uncomfortable having my phone connect to my natural biorhythms, but the lamentable fact about this patent is that Apple, once again, has found a way of exercising its dominion over the mobile market.
If I believed for one second that any of these advanced security measures were meant for the user’s benefit, perhaps I would feel differently. As they all seem rather advanced ways of spying, controlling, and dictating, you could say I’m less than thrilled. So beware mobile users, Big Brother is watching…you can count on it.
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Written by: Matt Klassen. www.digitcom.ca >. Follow TheTelecomBlog.com > by: RSS >, Twitter >, Identi.ca >, or Friendfeed >
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
You can’t really argue “Big Brother” ideologies if consumers are willingly entering into such contracts with Apple, though. If the people are making these security choices and purchasing products, exclusive operating systems or not, that’s the deal. I can’t expect to be able to play Wii games on my PS3, so why are mobile phones any different?
As to the killswitch, don’t they have those on the prototypes they send out already? And isn’t Onstar a similar program in automobiles in that it can effectively “kill the engine” if given a command and a codeword?
I’m not so sure it’s overly accurate to position Apple as a company that particularly cares what you do with your phone. I don’t think they’re “spying” on consumers or nosing around in personal information or using staffers to dig up the dirt by tapping in to the heart rates of users for kicks. In fact, I think their actual practices are far more nefarious.
I hear what you’re saying, and while some of these features are of the ‘opt-in’ variety (like OnStar), by all indications the kill switch is something hardwired into the phone itself. Sure you could buy another phone, but I think the prevailing thought process is, why include these sorts of controls and ’security’ measures at all?
I’m not really sure what you’re saying when you ask “why include these sorts of controls and ’security’ measures at all?”
Presumably these sorts of measures are included in a product to enhance the security of said product, so a kill switch is included so that users can “kill” their phones should they be lost or misplaced. I can see the usefulness of such a feature, just as I can see the usefulness of Onstar or “stop payment” on credit cards and cheques. It seems a perfectly valid security feature, not a way for Apple to randomly or suspiciously start turning off phones.
When Apple’s dark army of mobile robots takes over your home, I’ll try not to say “I told you so.”