Software locks: Difference between revisions
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Software locks are security measures used to control access and features in consumer electronic hardware and software. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lock_(computer_science)</ref><ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_open-source_and_closed-source_software</ref> Software locks are not considered bad practice and are necessary for basic cybersecurity and operation of most hardware, though they can be abused. | |||
==Noteworthy bad practice examples== | |||
=== | |||
===Anti Interoperability=== | |||
Also see: [[wikipedia:Proprietary_protoco|Proprietary protocols]] | |||
wip stub example you can't use our competitors Bluetooth headset with our XYZ operating system because we invented a our own new proprietary XYZ Bluetooth audio codec and that product doesn't support it. | wip stub example you can't use our competitors Bluetooth headset with our XYZ operating system because we invented a our own new proprietary XYZ Bluetooth audio codec and that product doesn't support it. | ||
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apple's history of anti-Interoperability | apple's history of anti-Interoperability | ||
===Account-required products=== | |||
=== | |||
===== | =====Mobile phones===== | ||
[https://pirg.org/articles/refurbishers-repairers-and-recyclers-call-on-the-fcc-to-stop-phone-software-locks/ ref] Small preamble focused on how mobile phones require an account in order to be used, reference Google Pixels and specific Android devices requiring a Google account, and iPhones needing an Apple account. | |||
===== in appliances ===== | =====in appliances===== | ||
hvac app activation of furnace control boards (also an example of [[Forced app download]] (editors note hard to find credible ref this is a thing with ruud furnace control boards) ) | hvac app activation of furnace control boards (also an example of [[Forced app download]] (editors note hard to find credible ref this is a thing with ruud furnace control boards) ) | ||
====Binding hardware features to non-transferable user accounts / activation & licensing locks==== | ====Binding hardware features to non-transferable user accounts / activation & licensing locks<!-- This needs a much shorter name -->==== | ||
-wip | -wip | ||
===Server connectivity reliance=== | |||
Also see: [[Subscription service]], [[Digital rights management]] | |||
-wip | -wip | ||
==Further reading / also see== | |||
[[Digital rights management|DRM (digital right managment)]] | |||
[[wikipedia:Comparison_of_open-source_and_closed-source_software|Proprietary Software]] | |||
[[Walled garden]] / [[Software Ecosystem]] | |||
[[Bootloader unlocking]] | |||
[[wikipedia:Proprietary_firmware|Proprietary firmware]] | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Latest revision as of 07:10, 2 September 2025
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Software locks are security measures used to control access and features in consumer electronic hardware and software. [1][2] Software locks are not considered bad practice and are necessary for basic cybersecurity and operation of most hardware, though they can be abused.
Noteworthy bad practice examples[edit | edit source]
Anti Interoperability[edit | edit source]
Also see: Proprietary protocols
wip stub example you can't use our competitors Bluetooth headset with our XYZ operating system because we invented a our own new proprietary XYZ Bluetooth audio codec and that product doesn't support it.
real example apple mfi certifications on charging and data transfer accessories
apple's history of anti-Interoperability
Account-required products[edit | edit source]
Mobile phones[edit | edit source]
ref Small preamble focused on how mobile phones require an account in order to be used, reference Google Pixels and specific Android devices requiring a Google account, and iPhones needing an Apple account.
in appliances[edit | edit source]
hvac app activation of furnace control boards (also an example of Forced app download (editors note hard to find credible ref this is a thing with ruud furnace control boards) )
Binding hardware features to non-transferable user accounts / activation & licensing locks[edit | edit source]
-wip
Server connectivity reliance[edit | edit source]
Also see: Subscription service, Digital rights management
-wip
Further reading / also see[edit | edit source]
Walled garden / Software Ecosystem