The Kill Switch Comes to the PC

The Kill Switch Comes to the PC

www.businessweek.com

With the rollout of the Windows 8 operating system expected later this year, millions of desktop and laptop PCs will get kill switches for the first time. Microsoft (MSFT) hasn’t spoken publicly about its reasons for including this capability in Windows 8 beyond a cryptic warning that it might be compelled to use it for legal or security reasons. The feature was publicized in a widely cited Computerworld article in December when Microsoft posted the terms of use for its new application store, a feature in Windows 8 that will allow users to download software from a Microsoft-controlled portal

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Just like BO wanted, Windows 8 = Kill Switch

Game, set, match.....just upgrade.

More from the story-

Microsoft declined to answer questions about the kill switch in Windows 8 other than to say it will only be able to remove or change applications downloaded through the new app store. Any software loaded from a flash drive, DVD, or directly from the Web will remain outside Microsoft’s control. Still, the kill switch is a tool that could help Microsoft prevent mass malware infections. “For most users, the ability to remotely remove apps is a good thing,” says Charlie Miller, a researcher with the security company Accuvant.

www.businessweek.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I'll just stick with win7.

reply to post by Signals


Who's gooing to be the first to test wether it is a real kill switch, or like they said, just a way to remove software??
Any takers?

reply to post by wrksstudios


Good plan but DOD helped develop that too....

Solution:
Run a different operating system
or
wait for others to expectedly circumvent this technology

brill

It'll be a long time before I leave win xp.

Each OS gives less control to the user and more to MS.

reply to post by Signals


Thanks for the info. Is the Kill Switch designed to combat piracy? I've yet to look into this but it's interesting to see how much closer we are to a cyber controlled society, as for example seen in the recent videogame Deux Ex

I run Linux OS with Ubuntu as GUI/Shell

I say HA to the kill switch .. I 'd be interested to see an "open source" kill anything LMAO

Android already has it; Apple already has it.

Talk about fearmongering.
If you don't like Microsoft, don't buy their products and don't tell half-truths about their products.

I see... I see.


Mac 1, PC 0

Keep playing your SIms while you still can i'll be laughing to Macintosh Pages

Originally posted by brill
Solution:
Run a different operating system
or
wait for others to expectedly circumvent this technology

brill

Already circumventable.
It's called "install the program from CD/DVD/USB/ other downloadable source instead of their application store."

Not a concern to me ... the hacker community is amazing.. anything microsoft has thrown out there that they've not liked ( see activation as exhibit a ) they've defeated... and if they make life too difficult.. they will only further the decline of their company ... stupid move if you ask me .. Apple is making steep gains on the pc market, Linux is ever the nagging foe ... the more they do to annoy users, the more they lose money..

If this is even true ofcourse..

reply to post by Signals


Eh.. I would say it is more likely to stop people from pirating windows.

reply to post by antirepressant


Which part of my OP has "half-truths"?

It seems like Apple, Microsoft and Android use this killswitch .. for the android users (like myself) if you don't want this killswitch, either you dont use the android market place or root your phone with something like this. Then you'll be able to use you android phone without having to have anything google related ,

As usual no one thinks anymore,

If they can turn the " hardware off " ,,which the software ware has always been able too do,,

the safety was "turn it off" it stays off,,,,

now by using the same logic,, if a machine is turned off using the,,, on/off button ,,
will windows 8 be able too turn bypass said.,,,, on/off button,,through, written coded software script,
ie access bios ,,sent appropriate singnal via wi-fii or lan,, or cable,, or any internet type portal/gateway,
which has on/off access at the motherboard level ie on/off switch,,well

WHAT U CAN TURN OFF U CAN TURN ON !!!

ohh look honey the computer just turned on and seems to be downloading,, something,,,,

knock,,knockkk at door,,,,,oh honey its the police,,,,
honey there seems too be some kind of porn on this new computer,,,
and it ,,,,just turned itself off,, weird,,,,,,

this is the police open up,,, etc,,,, ya 1984/clockwork orange/Enemy of the State stuff,,,

windows/operating platforms were never meant for 24/7 hook ups,,

but as H.P and DELL have both just found out,,

kids have moved on from PC,, thats just ,,lame,,,

FREE,,,windows 8 are on what "NEW EXCITING" appliances these days?

just curiious,,,internet,,just wanted too chat worldwide,,maybe share some files,,geez,,,
who knew,,,

Me.

reply to post by wrksstudios


Same here. I used to love Windows 98SE then Windows XP. Now? Windows 7 is pretty much as perfect as you can get. Screw Windows 8, looks like crap in my opinion. (Never been a huge fan of the Metro design.)

My opinion of course, and Windows 7 won't last forever. One day, it'll be as old as Windows 95 which is pretty much unusable today.

People keep touting windows 8 as the next M$ OS. It's NOT.

It's going to fail like the Hindenburg. Like the Titanic. Like a large bowl of fail on the failboat.

I hear you can still use a Mouse on Windows 8? That's some amazing technological breakthrough right there. But of chourse, it's catered towards Touch Screens. So when you upgrade your Desktop to W(ait) you're going to have to either stick with your mouse, trying to find those corner slide points and drag your mouse to access "touch areas" on the screen AND use your scroll wheel to scroll left and right within the "APP HOME SCREEN"

Awesome, I can't wait.

Or you can go buy a fancy new Touch Screen LCD, do away with your keyboard and mouse, and .. never program again, never play anything but M$ version of Angry Birds called Angry PISSEDOFFCUSTOMERS and the best thing, is you have to fiddle around to try and find TaskManager in order to CLOSE any apps... thats right, no close X on them.. Everything runs all the time once you start it.

Sounds Great, where can I sign up?!

Oh and did I mention that the Desktop now is a 'feature' that you have to run? Yup. You have to run the Desktop APP in order to get a desktop.

Basically, your 26" monitor will just be one big fat fancy 10" galaxy tab screen with a Microsoft logo.

I will be sticking with ubuntu/W7 until the next incarnation of windows comes out, but I expect this to be the biggest flop since people decided to use Windows NT at home.

So the kill switch? FCan bight my shiny Teflon padded gaming mouse.

reply to post by BobAthome


Dude, did someone steal you period/full stop key?

That's so unreadable, I think I just went back in time.