Why farmers are hacking their John Deere tractors

John Deere has put in software locks that disables their tractors from unauthorised repairs. According to a media report, farmers in the USA are now sourcing software to bypass these locks.

Farmers who are usually located far away from authorised dealerships face time delays due to breakdowns. It is also reported that John Deere authorised technicians charge a lot more than independent mechanics doing the same repair. Using software sourced from Eastern European countries like Poland and Ukraine, the user can disable speed limits and allow the tractor to be connected to a laptop via USB.

John Deere has been signing agreements with tractor owners which doesn’t allow unauthorised repairs on their equipment. A 2015 ruling by the Librarian of Congress approved software modifications on land vehicles as long as it didn’t affect its emission.

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