The Theft Problem/lang-ko
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도난과 관련된 이슈를 논의하는 페이지들입니다;
- Case design#The colour of the case,
- Case design#The Theft Problem,
- Case design#Blank field for personalizing indented in the case
성인들이 어린이용 노트북을 훔쳐 여타 용도로 이용하는 것을 어떻게 막을 수 있을까요?
문제
요약: 성인용 노트북은 다른 크기, 다른 색상, 다른 주파수의 Wifi 시스템을 이용하도록 설계함으로써, 어린이용 노트북와 성인용의 기능과 용도가 중복되지 않게 하는 것입니다.
There is a serious theft problem that must be addressed if this laptop is to be made available in developed countries and that includes many of the orange countries on the map. As long as the laptop is distributed to children only, there will be no adult market for the laptop. In other words, there will be no motivation for adults to steal these laptops from children for their own use.
It is good that these laptops look like toys and are available in distinctive bright colors.
I think that the project leaders need to make a statement on adult availability including the "three for one" pledge that was recently published on Slashdot.
If there is to be any distribution to adults, it should be in a different physical form factor from the one distributed to children. For distribution to developers, it could be in a desktop form factor that runs off mains power, i.e. non-folding ugly functional plastic case. If there is to be a model distributed to adults in the target countries then it should be made in a more traditional dull laptop color and it should have a wifi system that works on DIFFERENT frequencies and with some kind of an incompatibility in the protocol. Adults should not be able to eavesdrop on the kids, pretend to be kids, or send kids inappropriate materials.
This is a serious topic which really needs its own page. For now, one should not forget problems caused by portability and market value of the OLPC, making it possible object for kid-to-kid and adult-to-kids theft. As industry developed multiple anti-theft protection mechanisms, none should left unconsidered. dimpliest detachable security cable with case-integrated 4-digit code lock would ease theft problem significantly.
상업용 제품과의 차별화
If the olpc laptop has different
- color
- shape
- size of motherboard
it can be easily identified as a olpc laptop.
Much of that will require engineering effort, reduce the economy of scale, and make laptops less desirable. It's easier to just print "olpc" in great big letters on the back.
시리얼 넘버
요약: MAC Address를 시리얼 넘버로 이용하는 것입니다.
The MAC Adress can be used as a serial number. If a laptop is stolen this number will be written to a database. There can be a USB Stick with a small linux and all serial numbers of stolen laptops. If you boot from this USB stick it should show if the laptop is stolen. (MAC adresses can be changed temporarily by software)
지문 인식
I propose to install a fingerprint reader in the Laptops.
It is important as it avoids the problem of somebody doing somebody´s else homework. Or posing as a different student.
Besides a stolen laptop will not turn on, if the student doesn´t activate it, by using own finger. MEXICO, AGS-----Dagoflores 21:48, 4 April 2007 (EDT)
RFID Access Wristband
요약: 어린이 팔목에 감는 밴드에 RFID 칩을 넣어서, 노트북이 이 밴드와 유선으로 접속되지 않고는 부팅이 안되게 하는 것입니다.
I would like to propose a different approach than using a different color set for the casing, or using the MAC address. I do agree with the previous posts that the theft problem is a serious burden of this project that must not be underestimated.
I do think that the color set of the casing should not be changed, even if these machines were to be distributed to first world countries (Which isn't planned yet, I know). In my view, a prime appeal of these machines are actually the bright and colorful casings they have. Striping them of these shells would transform them in some way to a "usual gadget" which it shouldn't be. These machines don't deserve to be "usual", they deserve better. I think these colors are actually cool.
Let me now move on to the theft problem. I would propose, that every child who gets such a notebook, would also be given a wristband. This wristband should be equally colorful as the laptop, so that the child could better find it, should it be lost. The wristband, which could be made of nylon should include an RFID chip. When the laptop is started it should first scan for a specific RFID signal. If it is detected, then the laptop should start as normal. If not, then the laptop should be automatically shut down, thus making it worthless for anyone who isn't allowed to use it, like thieves or their customers. The "Wristband-Login" should be well secured, so that it would even with first world technologies and knowledge be difficult to crack it. Over time, thieves would eventually come to the conclusion, that it doesn't make sense to steal these machines from schools, or from whereever the children store them. The "Wristband-Login" would also prevent people from using the machine without the childs permission, thus protecting its privacy, and ultimately the privacy of its contacts in the email or instant messenger program. So, what happens if the child would lose the wristband you might ask? Well, I strongly assume that in every region, where these laptops are to be delivered, there would be some sort of a central support station, to where these kids could go, if ever there was a problem with the machine. These central support stations should also have replacement wristbands on stock and a "Wristband RFID writer", so that they could recreate the wristband for the child. Mind you, these RFID connections should also be encrypted, so that the children can't be tracked.
To sum up, the RFID Wristband would have following advantages and disadvantages:
- + The laptop can only be started with the specifically for this machine made RFID wristband in close distance, thus making it worthless for thieves, their customers or any person who wants to access the data on the child's notebook.
- + RFID Wristbands are cheap to make and easy to replace.
- + Large numbers of notebooks could be stored at school without fearing that they were stolen, because twenty laptops would require the wristbands of twenty children which are almost impossible to get.
- + There is no need for a login password, which means that you won't encounter the problems connected to them as well.
- - RFID wristbands could be tracked, if they are not encrypted.
- - If there wasn't a central support station, it would be hard to get a wristband replacement, should it be lost.
All in all I think the advantages are considerably greater than the disadvantages. It would also greatly increase the privacy of the child and the people in its contact lists.
Best Regards
C.Beeli
Addendum to my previous post:
- These wristbands could actually be watches, very simple child watches with an integrated RFID chip to authenticate their laptops. While the possibility of losing a watch would be considerably smaller than of losing a wristband, it would also provide the children with the current time. Of course, these watches would have to be very simple, robust and cheap to manufacture, so that they wouldn't add too much to the costs of a laptop. Such a watch would provide the child with a means of securing (authenticating) its laptop and as a nice side effect with the current time. I think in these targeted countries children don't usually own a watch. A watch could be very useful though, for meeting up with other children or with the laptop support center etc. And well... what if that watch actually had two timezones on it, the local timezone... and maybe (if such a program would be implemented), the timezone of a possible donor person... wouldn't that be cool? ;)
--Xapadoo 18:20, 16 January 2007 (EST)
- To manufacture these watches cheaply you could turn to SWATCH or Casio. I'm absolutely sure they'd be highly interested.
--Xapadoo 09:26, 18 January 2007 (EST)
KISS principle and simple economics
요약: 저렴한 상업용 제품을 판매한다면, 굳이 저개발국의 노트북을 훔쳐올 필요가 없지 않을까요?
This is getting crazy. The easy way to reduce the theft problem is to get Walmart and Amazon selling many millions of these. Why buy a used one shipped from far away when you get get a nice clean one in original packaging? All these ideas about locks and RFID and such are just going to add cost. The answer to the theft problem is to drive cost down, making stolen laptops nearly worthless. Adding a bit of value to the retail ones, probably extra RAM (no extra engineering needed), would be the death blow to the market for stolen laptops. AlbertCahalan 13:30, 24 February 2007 (EST)
- Heh, I just realized that MIT is in Cambridge, where attempts to distort the market made a huge mess. The place had rent control. Landlords responded in two ways. First, they just got rid of housing because it didn't pay. Second, they found ways around the law such as forcing people to rent/purchase overpriced furnishings to go with the apartments. One would think economics is taught somewhere in Cambridge. AlbertCahalan 13:36, 24 February 2007 (EST)
Here, here. It's also worth considering the neutralization of DVD encryption and the piracy wars of the '80s. In both cases the technical solution to the piracy problem became an irresistible target for legions of technically ept people. Just the sort of people who built the security systems will be trying every conceivable attack to crack the security system. History shows that they'll win.
Even if such security efforts aren't, ultimately, futile they have to be measured against their impact on the economics and purpose of the OLPC. Any security measure will increase cost and complexity. Will whatever theft is prevented be worth foregoing some performance/feature improvement? Would the man-power resources be better spent on enhancing capabilities or improving security? How much additional learning/teaching burden does the security system impose on the recipients of the OLPC?
About the only thing I can think of that might fulfill the requirements of imposing little development overhead, no user overhead while reducing the merchantability of an OLPC would be to manufacture the top and bottom case with the country of destination's name carved deeply into the surfaces.
That way if an OLPC shows up on E-bay with "Egypt" plainly visible on the case then it's a pretty good bet that it's stolen and the seller guilty of trafficking in stolen merchandise. A couple of arrests will make it difficult to find retailers for stolen OLPCs. Anyone walking around with one of those computers is guilty of receiving stolen property and advertising the fact.
It won't stop theft but it will make it more difficult to access lucrative markets like the U.S. and will only be salable in their destination country. --Allenmajor 16:39, 8 April 2007 (EDT)