Or "Laputin Machine" to get rid of oversized, angry, German cybersoldiers. I imagine the phrases would be computer generated non-sense words, like the name of some kind of mythos creature (but easier to pronounce), to decrese that non-zero chance of accidental activation.

I remember reading about the precautions Deus took to keep his slaves from leaving the Arc, but Deus is sort of a special case. He/It was a god in there. I'm curious how these things work out in much less controlled circumstances.

The other issues (that I forgot to mention in the first post ) is how likely anyone is to agree to something like this. I doubt most people would give someone else that kind of power over them. I'm sure there are cases where agents don't know they're rigged to die, faint, or just freeze on command, but if it was an explosion, that's something they should know about-- they need to consider their team members and it's something that could be planned around when necessary (suicide bombing).

And does it make any sense for an agent to explode when they die? I'm sure it could be useful occassionally, but enough to make that a standard? -and again, how much control would the agent have over something like this? Obviously they can't be allowed to turn it off, but should they be able to activate it?

Well...

"Kink bomb" cortex bombs supposedly can be placed to disable specific cyberware implants. One could even fluff them into simple remote on/off switches. That'd be a great way to keep risky cyberzombies under control.

I suppose a RAS override, connected to an implant receive-only radio, would be another trick that could be used.

And, yeah, I can see megacorps doing this to key, high-risk personnel.

Actually, it doesn't seem too far fetched that someone whom was well endowed with cyberware by an corporation or government would refuse a cranial bomb or any other kill switch device. Said corporation/organization/government isn't going to put a million nuyen worth of cyberware into some random slub they get off the street. They'll be putting it into a highly loyal, highly disciplined individual that would die for them without a second thought. In exchange for a fat paycheck and bleeding edge cyberware, said individual needs only to have a bit of "insurance" installed within his skull to make sure that company's equipment and/or information doesn't fall into enemy hands. You can spin it a million different ways to make it seem like installing a bomb into your brain is really for the best and make it sound good, especially if that individual is already fanatically loyal to you in the first place.