“Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, has confirmed there is a ‘kill switch’ built into the iPhone [operating system] that allows Apple to remotely delete malicious or inappropriate applications stored on the device,” Claudine Beaumont reports for The Telegraph.
“iPhone and iPod touch owners are able to install additional software on their devices purchased from the Apple Application Store,” Beaumont reports.
“Mr Jobs insisted that the so-called ‘kill switch’ was there as a precaution, rather than a function that was routinely used,” Beaumont reports. “‘Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull,’ said Mr Jobs.”
“Mr Jobs also announced that in the month since the iPhone 3G was released and the Application Store launched, around 60 million applications had been downloaded for the iPhone and iPod touch,” Beaumont reports.
Full article here.
Reportedly, the “kill switch” found last week (please see related article below) would allow Apple to block access to Core Location (GPS) for misbehaving apps. Whether or not Jobs was referencing that ability or another undiscovered “kill switch” is unknown.
Words of wisdom from Britmac. Responsibility can only be measured in hindsight.
Sony thought that they were being responsible when they commissioned the first ever trojan spyware.
Microsoft never thought to close all the ports on a computer before installing internet explorer live as a default, or if they did, they allowed greed to rule the day because it allowed anyone to write and upload apps for it.
But to compound it all, Microsoft wrote into internet explorer the ability to open and install programs automatically without offering the owner of the computer the option of blocking it. This meant that the millions of free discs arriving with pc magazines installed crap automatically on the owners pc in such a way that the owner was never going to be able to remove them all let alone know what was on their pc.
I will not repeat the concerns that have been raised, but like BritMacHead, give me reliability, give me assurance, give me security and I will give you my money & vote. Fail me, & I vote with my feet & pocket.
Sorry! I should have said Windows, it was the culprit responsible for opening files automatically.
this would be useful too to kill apps not sold thru the store or apps not authorized by apple. Like if someone came up with a way to unlock your phone via software. Or someone figures out a way to tether? because pulling apps off the store sometimes is just not contol freak enough. Heck what if someone got copy and paste working but apple doesn’t like it. They need a way to take it away from you, wouldn’t they?
“”Does your Apple branded laptop feature a GPS chip?”
It just may. It just may.”
How would you know? Big Brother doesn’t seem to be keen to publish all the features of their machines.
“But to compound it all, Microsoft wrote into internet explorer the ability to open and install programs automatically without offering the owner of the computer the option of blocking it.”
And over five years ago they reversed all the decisions you’re complaining about because they saw they were a bad idea. Why not start your post with “Once upon a time, when the earth was young…” And they always had the option, just not as a default.
I bet Apple can eavesdrop on any iPhone user at will..
“I bet Apple can eavesdrop on any iPhone user at will..”
And I’ll bet you’re an astroturfer with more acne than sense.
“I bet Apple can eavesdrop on any iPhone user at will..”
This is not just iPhone users. Law enforcement can currently request any cellphone user be tracked. They can also turn on the microphone without the phone ringing to bug you through your phone. Do you really think E911 was about finding you to help you in an emergency?
Chuck Norris has a kill switch – his left pinkie finger.
If you use an RF spectrum analyzer next your Mac you will see it’s radio emissions as it tries to phone home to the alien fleet.
Steve’s looking so thin because the human host he is inhabiting is rejecting him. He’s running out of time to take the plan to completion.
I strongly recommend wrapping your Mac in tinfoil and then microwaving it to thwart the imminent alien invasion.
Would the “killswitch” work for killing AT&T;dependency? I would use that kill switch right away and won’t have to wait for Apple at all.
I also wonder exactly how they would define an inappropriate, but non-malicious application. And they can tell that, how? Monitoring each phone?