# Kill pill > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kill_pill > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kill_pill.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_pill > Source revision: 1322326581 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the fatal poison, see [Suicide pill](/source/Suicide_pill), [the merger defense tactic](/source/The_merger_defense_tactic), [Shareholder rights plan](/source/Shareholder_rights_plan). In [computing](/source/Computing), a **kill pill** is a mechanism or a technology designed to render [systems](/source/Computer) useless either by user command, or under a predefined set of circumstances. Kill pill technology is most commonly used to disable lost or stolen devices for security purposes, but can also be used for the enforcement of rules and contractual obligations. ## Applications ### Lost and stolen devices Kill pill technology is used prominently in [smartphones](/source/Smartphone), especially in the disablement of lost or stolen devices. A notable example is [Find My iPhone](/source/Find_My_iPhone), a service that allows the user to [password](/source/Password) protect or [wipe](/source/Data_erasure) their [iDevice(s)](/source/IDevice) remotely, aiding in the protection of private data.[1] Similar applications exist for other smartphone [operating systems](/source/Operating_System), including [Android](/source/Android_(operating_system)),[2] [BlackBerry](/source/BlackBerry_OS),[3] and [Windows Phone](/source/Windows_Phone).[4] ### Anti-piracy measure Kill pill technology has been notably used as an [anti-piracy](/source/Copy_protection#Anti-piracy) measure. [Windows Vista](/source/Windows_Vista) was released with the ability to severely limit its own functionality if it was determined that the copy was obtained through [piracy](/source/Software_piracy). The feature was later dropped after complaints that [false positives](/source/False_positive) caused genuine copies of Vista to act as though they were pirated.[5] ### Removal of malicious software The concept of a kill pill is also applied to the remote removal by a [server](/source/Server_(computing)) of malicious files or applications from a [client's](/source/Client_(computing)) system. Such technology is a standard component of most handheld computing devices, mainly due to their generally more limited operating systems and means of obtaining applications. Such functionality is also reportedly available to applications downloaded from the [Windows Store](/source/Windows_Store) on [Windows 8](/source/Windows_8) operating systems.[6] ### Vehicles Kill pill technology is used frequently in [vehicles](/source/Motor_vehicle) for a variety of reasons. Remote vehicle disablement can be used to prevent a vehicle from starting, to prevent it from moving, and to prevent the vehicle's continued operation. Non-remotely, vehicles can require driver recognition before starting or moving, such as asking for a password or some form of [biometrics](/source/Biometrics) from the driver.[7] Kill pill technology is often used by governments to prevent [drunk driving](/source/Drunk_driving) by repeat offenders as a punishment and deterrent. The installation of an [ignition interlock devices](/source/Ignition_interlock_device) is a sentencing alternative for drunk drivers in almost all 50 of the [United States](/source/United_States). Such a device requires the driver to blow into a [breathalyzer](/source/Breathalyzer) before starting the vehicle. If the driver is found to be over the legal [blood alcohol content](/source/Blood_alcohol_content) limit, the vehicle will not start[8] ### Other uses Kill pill technology can also be implemented to contextually disable certain aspects of a smartphone's functionality. A patent obtained by [Apple](/source/Apple_Inc.) claims the ability to disable the antenna, screen, or camera of a smartphone in settings like theaters, schools, and areas of high security sensitivity.[9] ## Criticism Kill pill technology has been criticized for allowing for the suppression of personal liberties. While a kill pill can be utilized in a school setting to prevent academic dishonesty, it has been suggested that governments may also use it to suppress their people, for example, by disabling a phone's camera or antenna in the area of a protest.[10] The ability to remotely remove files and applications from a user's device has also come under fire. Apple's apparent ability to [blacklist](/source/Blacklist) applications, rendering them unusable on any iDevice, has raised concerns about the user's rights when downloading from the [App Store](/source/App_Store_(iOS)).[11] As of July 2014, no applications appear on Apple's blacklist website. ## See also - [Kill switch](/source/Kill_switch) ## References 1. ["iCloud - Find my iPhone"](https://www.apple.com/iphone/icloud/#find). Apple Inc. Retrieved 12 February 2013. [failed verification] 1. Lightner, Rob. ["5 ways to help find your lost Android device"](http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-20095637-285/5-ways-to-help-find-your-lost-android-device/). CNET. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 1. ["BlackBerry Protect"](http://ca.blackberry.com/devices/features/security/protect.html). BlackBerry Inc. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 1. ["Finding a lost phone"](http://www.windowsphone.com/en-ca/how-to/wp7/basics/find-a-lost-phone). Microsoft Inc. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 1. ["'Kill switch' dropped from Vista"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7126902.stm). *BBC News*. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 1. Robertson, Jordan (16 February 2012). ["The Kill Switch Comes to the PC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120301045525/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-02-17/the-kill-switch-comes-to-the-pc). *Businessweek*. Archived from [the original](http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-02-17/the-kill-switch-comes-to-the-pc) on March 1, 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 1. ["Vehicle Disabling Systems"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130221084256/http://@fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/systems-technology/product-guides/vehicle-disabling.htm). US Department of Transportation: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/systems-technology/product-guides/vehicle-disabling.htm) on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 1. Cordell, LaDoris (22 September 2009). ["Baby, You Can't Drive Your Car"](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2009/09/baby_you_cant_drive_your_car.html). *Slate*. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 1. "Apparatus and methods for enforcement of policies upon a wireless device". No. 8254902. 1. Whittaker, Zack (4 September 2012). ["Apple's patent could remotely disable protesters' phone cameras"](https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-patent-could-remotely-disable-protesters-phone-cameras/). *ZDNet*. Retrieved 13 February 2013. 1. Buchanan, Matt (6 August 2008). ["Apple Can Remotely Disable Apps Installed on Your iPhone"](https://gizmodo.com/5034007/apple-can-remotely-disable-apps-installed-on-your-iphone). *Gizmodo*. Retrieved 13 February 2013. ## External links - [Apple's blacklist of applications](https://iphone-services.apple.com/clbl/unauthorizedApps) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kill pill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_pill) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kill_pill?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.