Hanging on to your K3

[GW0ETF]

As the world gets ever more populated by the K3 there must come a time
when we see a message here reporting K3 s/n *** has been stolen -
fingers crossed it won't be K3 145.

It occurred to me that being software driven, it should be possible to
password protect the K3 in such a way to prevent it starting up until a
code or PIN has been entered at the keypad; once this feature became
known amongst the low-life such individuals may think twice about
lifting a radio that could well be unusable without a great deal of
hassle. I'm not thinking about a permanent feature here, more something
that can be invoked if for instance you're going away for a while or
leaving the radio overnight at a contest field day site etc.

Ofcourse this would have implications; for instance doing a forced
software upload would presumably overwrite any previously set
protection. This would I assume involve putting a layer of security in
the downloader to allow access only if you know the name of your mother
or pet vulture, favourite war criminal etc, etc but this would also
solve the inevitable problems when someone sets the security and then
forgets the password..........

The point is that anything along these lines shouldn't add too much work
either for the user or the folk at Aptos so wonder what, if anything,
others think about this idea/request? Sensible suggestions only - I've
already had my imagination going overactive and thinking about hidden
micro-transponders buried deep in the bowels of the K3 which would emit
a GPS traceable signal after 3 unsuccessful log on attempts, coupled
with a hidden nozzle that would spray an oil based, infra-red dye over
the room and occupants and which would show up on the next update of
Google Earth; and if the security was cracked, an embedded code would
accompany any signals radiated from the radio which will cause CW
Skimmer to alternately flash the user's callsign and *STOLEN* in red
letters....!

73,

Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF (K3 - 145)
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[Ian Maude]

Stewart Rolfe wrote:
> As the world gets ever more populated by the K3 there must come a time
> when we see a message here reporting K3 s/n *** has been stolen -
> fingers crossed it won't be K3 145.
Remember that the rig's serial number is embedded in the Firmware Stewart.

73 Ian

--

Ian J Maude, G0VGS
SysOp GB7MBC DX Cluster
Member RSGB, GQRP
K2 #4044 |K3 #455

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[Dick Dievendorff]

I'd prefer not to make firmware loading any more difficult than it is
already.  Whatever layers we added could either be defeated by a persistent
and technologically savvy thief or would cause the real owner real grief
should something go awry.

Dick, K6KR


-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stewart Rolfe
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2008 2:00 AM
To: elecraft reflector
Subject: [Elecraft] Hanging on to your K3

As the world gets ever more populated by the K3 there must come a time
when we see a message here reporting K3 s/n *** has been stolen -
fingers crossed it won't be K3 145.

It occurred to me that being software driven, it should be possible to
password protect the K3 in such a way to prevent it starting up until a
code or PIN has been entered at the keypad; once this feature became
known amongst the low-life such individuals may think twice about
lifting a radio that could well be unusable without a great deal of
hassle. I'm not thinking about a permanent feature here, more something
that can be invoked if for instance you're going away for a while or
leaving the radio overnight at a contest field day site etc.

Ofcourse this would have implications; for instance doing a forced
software upload would presumably overwrite any previously set
protection. This would I assume involve putting a layer of security in
the downloader to allow access only if you know the name of your mother
or pet vulture, favourite war criminal etc, etc but this would also
solve the inevitable problems when someone sets the security and then
forgets the password..........

The point is that anything along these lines shouldn't add too much work
either for the user or the folk at Aptos so wonder what, if anything,
others think about this idea/request? Sensible suggestions only - I've
already had my imagination going overactive and thinking about hidden
micro-transponders buried deep in the bowels of the K3 which would emit
a GPS traceable signal after 3 unsuccessful log on attempts, coupled
with a hidden nozzle that would spray an oil based, infra-red dye over
the room and occupants and which would show up on the next update of
Google Earth; and if the security was cracked, an embedded code would
accompany any signals radiated from the radio which will cause CW
Skimmer to alternately flash the user's callsign and *STOLEN* in red
letters....!

73,

Stewart Rolfe, GW0ETF (K3 - 145)
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