[OLPC Security] Developer Key

[Simson Garfinkel]

Several people have voiced confusion over the developer's key.

The purpose of the developer's key is to make it possible for  
students to change kernels, disable security features, try new  
operating systems, etc., to further the OLPC "constructivist"  
learning philosophy.  We don't make it easy, because disabling these  
features has risk to the laptop and to the student.  We couldn't come  
up with another system that would make it both possible to remove  
these protections and yet difficult and time-consuming to do so.

The developer's key is not an end-run around the security system.  
It's a way for students to say "I will manage my own security." For  
example, although the key makes it possible to turn off P_THEFT, it  
doesn't require that the student do so.