kill switch

American  

[kil swich] / ˈkɪl ˌswɪtʃ /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of kill switch

First recorded in 1950–60

Example Sentences

Monday’s hike isn’t a kill switch.

From MarketWatch

Also, Artemis had a kill switch, which let the researchers turn it off in an instant, should something go wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal

For tech-savvy users, there’s a wealth of advanced settings tucked away in the menu, including protocol selection, kill switch customization and split tunneling rules.

From Salon

The kill switch automatically cuts your internet connection if the VPN drops, preventing any accidental data leaks.

From Salon

Additional features such as a kill switch, multi-device support, ad blockers, anti-tracking tools and malware filters are also nice-to-have options.

From Salon