http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080811/bs_n...MTJU7wPDQD

Jennifer LeClaire, newsfactor.com
Mon Aug 11, 3:50 PM ET

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?"

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What do you think? Is the kill switch invasive, or smart? And is their failure to disclose it an indication of what other shady things they might be hiding?

I guess your just borrowing your iPhone, because if you owned it you could put whatever you wanted on it. If Apple wanted to deter customers from using software they don't approve, then let people know that any software not authorized by Apple will make your iPhone run at a less than stable fashion, and put a code into every piece of software that Apple authorizes to make it run at full specs. If others want to use other non-authorized software, then so be it, but they won't get the full benefit from their phone. I think that's better than someone digging through your phone and taking things off, without your knowledge or approval.

Yeah I'll have to agree with that. I'd rather hear upfront that unauthorized software will be removed or won't be allowed on the phone.

Surely you only borrow games consoles then?

With exploits being used to create homebrew software being closed (like the recent Wii update that seeked to eliminate just the twilight hack), You're just as locked in on a console.

I'm glad I still use the 2g iPhone and oh, the app store has been hacked already with the games torrented so that might be one of the reasons this kill switch was put in place. That plus their reason of course.

Maybe, but I no longer own a Wii, and I think Nintendo is worried (just like others) that they may loose some money if they allow homebrew onto their system. Apple on the other hand has always been devious at keeping people out of their system for their own reasons that don't necessarily have anything to do with monetary loss.

At least we're completely aware of that going into it, first.

I still have Box Office installed on my iPhone...i really like that app. Why they remove it?

Geez, a kill switch? Apple is just like Nintendo. They need to be in complete control.

I always assumed apple's logic was always about money. They block things where they'd not gain anything so they can copy it and sell it to the captive audience if the demand was high enough. They don't have ulterior motives, they just want all the money >_<

I can't speak for everyone, but if I bought an iPhone, I know if I wanted to use it legitimately I'd have to do what the apple police allowed.

Dreamcast FTFW!!!!!!!

Seriously, that's why Dreamcast is still my favorite. I love messing around/doing my own homebrew. It's open, they're a dime a dozen (as well as the great games/accessories for it). I wish more consoles were like that, I'd love to try to develop on the PS3.

As I've always said: I love my iPhone... I hate Apple.

^ What he said

A kill-switch kill-switch has already been made for the 3G for 2.0.1-2.0.3 so us homebrewers don't have to worry about being blocked by 'The Man'.

haha, that's brilliant!