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Security switch
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<h2 id="types">Types</h2> <h3>Hardware kill switch</h3> <p class="note">Not to be confused with <a href="/facts/Smartphone_kill_switch/CR6KqaL2">Smartphone kill switch</a>.</p> <p>A hardware kill switch (HKS) is a physical switch that cuts the signal or power line to the device or disable the chip running them. </p> <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2> <ul><li>A cellphone is compromised by malicious software, and the device initiates video and audio recording. When the user activates the “prevent capture of audio/video” mode of the security switch, that either physically disconnects or cut the power to the microphone and the camera, which stops the recording.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a></li> <li>A laptop that has an embedded security switch is stolen. The security switch detects a lack of communication from a specific external source for 12 hours, and responds by disconnecting the screen, keyboard and other key components, rendering the laptop useless, with no possibility of recovery, even with a full format.</li> <li>A user wishes to prevent tracking of their location. The user then activates <a href="/facts/Internet_geolocation/CAS3a4tv">geolocation</a> protection and the security switch disables all <a href="/facts/Global_Positioning_System/DKVLnzF3">GPS</a> communication, eliminating the possibility of tracking the device's location.</li> <li>A user desires to eliminate the possibility of their PIN being copied from their smartphone. They can activate the secure input function, causing the security switch to disconnect the touch screen from the <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a>, so input signals are not available to any devices except the switch.</li> <li>A security switch performs scheduled monitoring and finds that a program is attempting to download malicious content from the internet. It then activates internet security function and disables internet access, interrupting the download.</li> <li>If laptop software is compromised by <a href="/facts/Air-gap_malware/8xd3f4om">air-gap malware</a>, the user may activate the security switch and disconnect the speaker and microphone, so it can not establish communication with the device.</li></ul> <h2 id="history">History</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Google/GT9Sugza">Google</a> started to work on a hardware kill switch for <a href="/facts/AI/lJGauQwX">AI</a> in 2016.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p><p>In 2019, <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple</a>, and Google, along with a handful of smaller players, are designing “kill switches” that cut the power to the microphones or cameras in their devices. Googles first product that implemented this is <a href="/facts/Nest_Hub_Max/SbkhNmoE">Nest Hub Max</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p><p>Hardware kill switches are already available and widely tested on the <a href="/facts/PinePhone/x5rsB0tK">PinePhone</a>, <a href="/facts/Librem/tJGHCHBe">Librem</a>, <a href="/facts/Shiftphone/6by2FWzo">Shiftphone</a>, to cut power to the input peripherals (microphone, camera) but also the network connectivity modules (wifi, cellular network). </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li>Apple's T2 Security Chip Makes It Harder to Tap MacBook Mics, WIRED <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/apple-t2-security-chip-macbook-microphone/">https://www.wired.com/story/apple-t2-security-chip-macbook-microphone/</a></li> <li>The hardware trend Google and Apple are throwing their weight behind, Fast Company, 2019 <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind">https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind</a></li></ul> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Virtual_security_switch/nVN3LB74">Virtual security switch</a> – Software Ethernet switch with embedded security controls</li> <li><a href="/facts/Human_presence_detection/mheJaTrt">Human presence detection</a> – Technology for the detection of human bodies</li> <li><a href="/facts/Defense_strategy_(computing)/cItpbsFf">Defense strategy (computing)</a> – Concept to reduce computer security risks</li> <li><a href="/facts/Air-gap_malware/8xd3f4om">Air-gap malware</a> – type of MalwarePages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Schwab, Katharine (15 May 2019). "The hardware trend Google and Apple are throwing their weight behind". Fast Company. <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind" target="_blank">https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Google developing kill switch for AI". BBC News. 8 June 2016. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36472140" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36472140</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Schwab, Katharine (15 May 2019). "The hardware trend Google and Apple are throwing their weight behind". Fast Company. <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind" target="_blank">https://www.fastcompany.com/90349731/the-hardware-trend-google-amazon-and-apple-are-throwing-their-weight-behind</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>