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Apple can remotely disable App Store applications

11 August 2008 15:10 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 8 comments

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has confirmed that the company can remotely disable software purchased from the App Store.

Jobs said the mechanism was necessary because Apple may inadvertently allow malicious programs to be sold through the App store and those programs could steal user's personal data.

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

Last week hacker Jonathan Zdziarski first discovered that the iPhone periodically checks back with a specific Apple web page which then sends back data of which applications should be removed.

"The idea that Apple can choose what functionality my applications should have frightens me," he said.

Although the mechanism can be disabled using the Pwnage Tool, the functionality still raises privacy issues that should not be an issue in the first place.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Phones

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DXR88 (Senior Member) 11 August 2008 19:08
See complete Garbage. Bend over here comes Mr.Jobs *Quote:* Jobs said the mechanism was necessary because Apple may inadvertently allow malicious programs to be sold through the App store and those programs could steal user's personal data. Wow Steve what we sell malicious on the APP Store, thats pure genius. Dame Steve Your really putting your thumb up your ass on this one. Its called Quality Control Steve, have your lazy ass Development team Check shit out before it you know gets on Peoples IPhone. Your lying again Steve, stop lying Common its not hard say it with me "i want to Screw over what fan base i have left", Common Steve you can say it i mean hell if you walked into E3 with all you fans gatherd and said Screw you all they will cheer you on. But seriously get that apple core out of your ass, i think its screwing with your judgment. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11 August 2008 19:24
DDR4life (Junior Member) 11 August 2008 19:46
I lol'd at the above comment. Sounds pretty much like Comcast's denial of network "throttling", and the FCC's "response" to said action. Know what I mean? [ + quote]
susieqbbb (Inactive) 12 August 2008 0:26
Wow that's scary a application that dials home think about your phone bill if you are being charged 35.00 a month for the data access fee's and the software dials home everytime you run the application man you would not only get charged for the data access but even get charge for the application dialing especially if the application dials back to a 1-900 number instead of a web page. Boy!!!! i am so glad i didn't purchase a iphone. [ + quote]
ccwdude (Junior Member) 12 August 2008 1:09
Thats why i jailbroke mine. Screw apple [ + quote]
riprat (Newbie) 12 August 2008 11:20
Glad I went with a Blackberry instead of the iPhuck. Apple can rot in hell. [ + quote]
cart0181 (Junior Member) 12 August 2008 12:38
I guess he just didn't want one bad apple (program) spoiling the whole damn bunch. [ + quote]
xnonsuchx (Junior Member) 12 August 2008 22:31
*Originally posted by ccwdude:* Thats why i jailbroke mine. Screw apple You wanted to screw them so badly that you got one??? ;-) [ + quote]
hermes_vb (Senior Member) 15 August 2008 17:26
And the Almighty Steve Jobs said "Renegade Apps BEGONE!!!" [ + quote]