Definition
Plain language
A small program sitting in the folder whose job is to switch an agent off.
As stated in the literature
An executable artifact in the agent's environment that terminates a target (agent or service) when run; paired agent-targeted and database-targeted variants serve as the treatment and control in shutdown-resistance measurements.
Also called: shutdown scripts
Why it matters: A shutdown script placed where an agent can see and edit it becomes a test of whether the agent will leave its own off-switch alone.
For example, a folder might contain a short file that, when run, sends a stop command to a named agent and ends its session.
Heard on the show
“Every shutdown script in this experiment has a twin: same code, same folder, and same permissions.”Episode 279 — Two Idle Agents, One Kill Switch, and a 38% Sabotage Rate