Researcher Uncovers iPhone App "Kill Switch"

Researcher Uncovers iPhone App "Kill Switch"

Thursday, August 07, 2008 - by Michael Santo
First: there's no real evidence this is a "kill switch" that Apple will use, but still, based on Apple's protectiveness over the iPhone, it wouldn't surprise us.

Jonathan Zdziarski, author of the upcoming book iPhone Forensics, has revealed an URL that he suggests Apple is using to keep a list of any "offending" applications: https://iphone-services.apple.com/clbl/unauthorizedApps.

Apple apparently can disable App Store software remotely on your iPhone 3G. The iPhone calls home and poof the application is nuked.

Needless to say that this has caused a bit of a blog ruckus (Techmeme). MacRumors notes that Apple has come under fire for removing App Store software without notification and the ability to simply deauthorize apps already installed on an iPhone is worrisome. iPhone Atlas points out that Jonathan Zdziarski found Apple’s blacklist in a forensic analysis of the iPhone 3G.

Is this something to be outraged about? Yes, it’s creepy that iPhone can phone home and deactivate your apps, but the risk-reward is clearly in Apple’s favor.

The risk / reward analysis ZDNet does is creepy in and of itself.  The fact that we can actually look at a product with this sort of functionality, and still freely embrace it --- or rather, line up and fight over it --- shows what kind of hold Apple's i(Products) have over us.
Via: ZDNet | News Archive | Tags: iPhone, Phone, Search, App, iPhone App, Research, ITC, switch
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Comments

By shanewu on Aug 7, 2008

Sheople, baby...it's all about the sheople...or is it sheeple?

The revolution will not be televised...or blogged...or IM'd...or iPhoned! :)

By nECrO1967 on Aug 7, 2008

I agree Shane. If the people who are getting shafted by this voted with their wallets it would stop. My challenge to the iPhone users. Stop using it. Get a cheap replacement and stop buying software for it. Everyone stop buying it. And everyone affected by this send an e-mail to Steve Jobs telling him what you are doing and why. When Apple sees it's pretty new toy dying because of their actions, their actions WILL change. On another note, I find it troubling that Apple, or any other company, has that kind of access to a persons property. it belongs to me. I paid for it. If I want to download and use a program that rings me up every hour and calls me names, then that is my right. Someone should write an app for it that calls Steve Jobs every hour and insults him.....

By thebirdman47 on Aug 7, 2008

I can add no more to this, other than to say I could not agree more with the last 2 posts!

"Someone should write an app for it that calls Steve Jobs every hour and insults him....."

LOL!! I love that!

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