08-13-2008, 03:14 AM

Just found this on Yahoo, and i don't think it has been posted yet... Sorry if it already was posted! Source: here!

"Apple CEO Steve Jobs has confirmed that the iPhone 3G has a kill switch that can remotely remove software from the devices.

Jobs told The Wall Street Journal that Apple needs the capability in case it inadvertently allows a malicious program -- such as an application that steals user's personal data -- to be distributed to iPhones through its App Store.

"Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull," Jobs said.

Switch Not Used

Jobs' statement reveals Apple hasn't used the kill switch yet, but the company did remove an application from the App Store last week.

Apple removed the $999 "I Am Rich" application, which had the sole purpose of showing people the owner has money. The program creates a red icon that sits on the iPhone deck with a the words "I Am Rich" underneath. After the user activates the application, it glows on the handset like a ruby.

Apple initially approved the application, which bumps up against the pricing limit for applications sold on its App Store. The company was not immediately available for comment on why it decided to pull the plug.

Disappearing Acts

But the real controversy started when Jonathan Zdziarski, author of the books iPhone Open Application Development and iPhone Forensics Manual, discovered a URL buried in Apple's firmware. That URL links to a file dubbed "unauthorizedApps" where malicious or simply bad apps might go once they disappear from the App Store.

According to Zdziarski, I Am Rich isn't the only app to disappear. BoxOffice (renamed to Now Playing) and NullRiver's NetShare were also removed. But removing the applications from the App Store and removing them from a consumer's iPhone are two different issues.

"The kill switch is a very controlling gesture. I am not sure why Apple didn't disclose it up front as simply a security measure," said Avi Greengart, an analyst at Current Analysis. "Consumers will accept an awful lot if you let them know what they are accepting."

What Else is Apple Hiding?

In the past, Jobs has said he wants to be careful not to allow applications to bring down the network. Greengart doesn't see that as a major threat, especially since Apple is approving the applications.

However, Greengart said he's less concerned with the "heavy-handed and Big Brotherish" kill switch than the fact that Apple didn't disclose it in the first place. As far as he knows, no other mobile phone has a kill-switch capability.

"To my way of thinking, the issue is that you don't really know what your phone might be doing or not be doing," Greengart said. "I am not 100 percent sure what the capability is or is not. That is the problem. What is the capability? When might they use it? When wouldn't they use it? Is there anything else Apple is not disclosing?"

08-13-2008, 04:29 AM

It's not a kill switch
As it says it just can remove software installed from app store, if they somehow bad software gets its position on the app store

08-13-2008, 05:52 AM

I thought the same thing, i just put what the article said.... i only had a second to post it. I don't understand why they would bash it, it almost seems liek ti would be crazy not to have put it in.

08-13-2008, 05:37 PM

Didn't he mention this earlier, when they first showed off the appstore?

08-14-2008, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by eliehass

Didn't he mention this earlier, when they first showed off the appstore?

I think they were advertising the "Remote Wipe" feature for enterprise users..

I think the difference is that this "Kill Switch" can remove apps while the "Remote Wipe" only removes the users E-Mails, Contacts, Calenders, etc...

They could be the same though - I just remember hearing about the Remote Wipe feature numerous times, and the article says the "Kill Switch" was never advertised...