kill switch

[ kil swich ]

noun

1. a button, switch, or other mechanism that allows a machine to be shut down immediately:

   Only use the kill switch in emergencies.

2. Digital Technology. a command deployed to remotely lock, disable, or wipe an electronic device, as when the device is lost or stolen.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kill switch¹

First recorded in 1950–60

Example Sentences

The hitch with both companies was that the phone would not come with the “kill switch” installed.

From The Daily Beast

And in June of last year, Apple announced that it would be adding a “kill switch” feature to future phones.

From The Daily Beast

Gascón and the Boken family and the others of a pro “kill switch” group calling itself Secure Our Smartphones (SOS) kept pushing.

From The Daily Beast

Nicholas Ciarelli on how the government can improve security without resorting to a “kill switch.”

From The Daily Beast