Comment by gruez

>To me, blowing a fuse in hardware that you've sold sounds like at least unauthorized computer access and/or malicious destruction of property. I'm saddened and surprised to learn there's substantial precedence for this.

Unless they have auto updates that you can't disable, they can just withhold access to online services until you give them the permission. You're free to refuse of course, and no "malicious destruction of property" happens without your consent.

>If I were authorizing something like that (I'd rather quit my job, but if), I'd be terrified of the repurcussions – for one

IANAL but the chances of you getting civil/criminal penalties is slim to none.