Jump to content

Software locks: Difference between revisions

From Consumer Rights Wiki
ADRdaniel (talk | contribs)
m examples: reformatted page to align closer to wiki standards
Sojourna (talk | contribs)
Some quick clean-up as I don't want to spend much time on this page if it's eventually TNT'd.
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{StubNotice}}
===Common definition===
Software locks are security measures used to control access & features in consumer electronic hardware & 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 by definition are not a bad practice and are very necessary for basic cyber security and operation of most hardware.   


=== Noteworthy bad practice examples ===
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><sup>These are Wikipedia citations!</sup> Software locks are not considered bad practice and are necessary for basic cybersecurity and operation of most hardware, though they can be abused.     
 
====[[Anti Interoperability]]====
also see [[wikipedia:Proprietary_protoco|Proprietary protocols]]


==Noteworthy bad practice examples==
===Anti Interoperability===
See also: {{Wplink|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.  


Line 14: Line 12:
apple's history of anti-Interoperability
apple's history of anti-Interoperability


also see: [[hardware Anti Interoperability]] / [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_hardware? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proprietary_hardware?]
===Account-required products===
 
=====Mobile phones=====
====account parring====
[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 apple iphones=====
-wip [https://pirg.org/articles/refurbishers-repairers-and-recyclers-call-on-the-fcc-to-stop-phone-software-locks/ ref]


=====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====
===Server connectivity reliance===
Also see: [[Subscription service]], [[Digital rights management]]
-wip
-wip


( also see:  [[Subscription service]])
==Further reading==
 
[[Digital rights management]]
==Further reading / also see==
[[Digital rights management|DRM (digital right managment)]]


[[wikipedia:Comparison_of_open-source_and_closed-source_software|Proprietary Software]]
{{Wplink|Comparison of open-source and closed-source software|Proprietary software}}


[[Walled garden]] / [[Software Ecosystem]]
[[Walled garden]] / [[Software Ecosystem]]
Line 41: Line 35:
[[Bootloader unlocking]]
[[Bootloader unlocking]]


[[wikipedia:Proprietary_firmware|Proprietary firmware]]
{{Wplink|Proprietary firmware}}


==References==
{{Reflist}}


<references />
[[Category:Common terms]]

Latest revision as of 23:51, 14 October 2025

Article Status Notice: This Article is a stub


This article is underdeveloped, and needs additional work to meet the wiki's Content Guidelines and be in line with our Mission Statement for comprehensive coverage of consumer protection issues. Learn more ▼

Software locks are security measures used to control access and features in consumer electronic hardware and software.[1][2]These are Wikipedia citations! 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]

See also: 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

[edit | edit source]

Digital rights management

Proprietary software

Walled garden / Software Ecosystem

Bootloader unlocking

Proprietary firmware

References

[edit | edit source]