Apple iPhone Has A Kill Switch: Does It Matter?
Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008
by Asher Ricard
The news is out. Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the the iPhone does have a kill switch that allows Apple to remotely remove software from your iPhone.
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.
Apple thought that they could keep the fact that the iPhone had a kill switch a secret and now the news is out. At least that is what the paranoid users out there want you to believe.
I am sorry. I just don’t see any controversy here. Apple has a kill switch to protect the user yet the users are complaining.
Basically Apple has the ability to remove applications from anyone's iPhone. Apple’s reasoning is if someone creates an application that is malicious, stealing personal information, wrecking the phone, etc., Apple wants to be able to quickly and safely remove it before it causes too much damage.
People are upset because they think it is a violation of their privacy and it gives apple too much control.
I am pretty sure these are the same people that if the above situation did take place with malicious software would be complaining because Apple had not protected their phone.
This whole thought process that Apple will abuse the power of having a kill switch is absurd. Why would they risk their reputation by removing apps that don't pose a risk?
People are also upset because Apple didn’t disclose this from the beginning. They feel Apple might be hiding something else. Seriously? If what Apple was hiding was a way to save your phone and your personal information from reaching all sorts of honestly not good people, then what does it matter if they hid something else.
It doesn’t even look like they were hiding this. Jobs has came out and said it exists. I can see them hiding it just to reduce calls asking them to remove applications continually. People do not think a lot of times and end up downloading endless apps and then changing their minds. If they knew a kill switch existed they might be calling continually.
I guess my point is grow up and quit being so paranoid. It isn’t like Apple wants to control you or your phone. They were just trying to protect their product and their company.
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