Updated (source: Yahoo news)

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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20080811/tc_nf/61270

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Original Post:

According to iPhone hacker-extraordinaire Jonathan Zdziarski, Apply has readied a blacklisting system which would enable them to remotely disable applications on your device!

“This suggests that the iPhone calls home once in a while to find out what applications it should turn off. At the moment, no apps have been blacklisted, but by all appearances, this has been added to disable applications that the user has already downloaded and paid for, if Apple so chooses to shut them down.

I discovered this doing a forensic examination of an iPhone 3G. It appears to be tucked away in a configuration file deep inside CoreLocation.”

Hmmmm… So basically if the big fruit doesnt like what they find on your iPhone…well..THEIR phone I’d say…they simply instruct it to disable it! Cool!

Even though this all is quite a lot of speculation and no concrete information is currently present to know what exactly the people at Apple are doing with this thing-a-ma-jig… buuuut I think there would be some cause for concern eh?

Comments…anyone?

Read more on the same:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/07/iphone-hacker-says-the-device-calls-home-to-apple-allows-apps/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-10010070-37.html