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John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

orchardandvine.net

51–60 of 67 posts

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#51
post #43

This is the different sign of the same coin. Not you, but JD controls the kill-switch. They can disable a device to render it useless whenever something happens that they don't like. Whether it's theft or violation of your leasing terms. If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefini…

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely. Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really an…

I had it in my head that a new John Deere tractor costs about $400 thousand but I just did a very quick search and I'm seeing closer to $1 million for a combine. At this price point I don't see IT logistics being a huge barrier to a customer controlled kill switch.

Edit: wording

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but phones have a reason to be online most of the time. A vehicle should be able to be used without ever being online. Otherwise you are at the mercy of udpates, the provider good will (and John Deere as little), network availability and so on.

So are CNC machines. Are you aware that if you move a modern one, it's gonna be bricked?

I did not know this. Is it for theft prevention, or more like a deterrent to e.g. would-be clandestine arms manufacturers. I'm aware CNC machines can be quite pricey, but they otherwise seem like an impractical target for theives. At least a tractor has wheels.

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#53
post #5

That's a nice tractor you've got there. It'd be a shame if something happened to it. Can I interest you in some protection... Err, 3 year service plan?

Activation lock for phones was demonstrably effective at reducing theft of the products it was applied to, so _if_ theft of tractors is an issue this seems like a good thing, _if_ JD is also willing to commit to/legally required to maintain the activation service.

Under normal, non-war circumstances, tractor theft isn't a thing.

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#54
post #53
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Activation lock for phones was demonstrably effective at reducing theft of the products it was applied to, so _if_ theft of tractors is an issue this seems like a good thing, _if_ JD is also willing to commit to/legally required to maintain the activation service.

Under normal, non-war circumstances, tractor theft isn't a thing.

Random disputes over the details of lease and service contract terms however...

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#55
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely. Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really an…

I had it in my head that a new John Deere tractor costs about $400 thousand but I just did a very quick search and I'm seeing closer to $1 million for a combine. At this price point I don't see IT logistics being a huge barrier to a customer controlled kill switch. Edit: wording

In apple's case don't bad people unlock locked devices by spoofing the servers anyways?

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#56
post #43

This is the different sign of the same coin. Not you, but JD controls the kill-switch. They can disable a device to render it useless whenever something happens that they don't like. Whether it's theft or violation of your leasing terms. If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefini…

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely. Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really an…

- User setup geo fence.

- Requires connection to phone, nfc, other radio signal...

- and/or other deadman switch ideas...

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#57
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefinitely. Apple has a similar feature for its devices that is in control of the user, but ultimately it's still depends on the device connecting to the internet and getting a ping that it's "lost" from Apple's servers. There's not really an…

I had it in my head that a new John Deere tractor costs about $400 thousand but I just did a very quick search and I'm seeing closer to $1 million for a combine. At this price point I don't see IT logistics being a huge barrier to a customer controlled kill switch. Edit: wording

I expect some farmers would buy another brand of $1M harvester to avoid dealing with IT headaches.

Re: John Deere 'Kill Switch' renders stolen tractors useless (2022)

#60

This is the different sign of the same coin. Not you, but JD controls the kill-switch. They can disable a device to render it useless whenever something happens that they don't like. Whether it's theft or violation of your leasing terms. If the owner was in control of the kill-switch, it would still have all benefits of theft protection, without the problems that arise with a manufacturer controlling devices indefini…

If you're leasing it from them, you're not the owner, they are.
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