Apple Can Disable iPhone Apps, but Should They?

by: Larry Dignan August 07, 2008 | about stocks: AAPL    

Larry Dignan

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Apple (AAPL) 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. Let’s recap:

Risk: You deactivate apps and annoy customers. Impact: Minimal. iPhone customers will stick.

Reward: By having this deactivation “feature” Apple garners some enterprise credibility. Yes, it’s DRM run amok, but if you’re a company you like a little remote wiping action.

Reward: Apple has some control over security. Let’s face it folks. QuickTime and Safari aren’t the most secure applications ever written. Apple is a big target. And a malicious app disguised as a legit piece of software could iBrick the iPhone army. That’s a dangerous scenario for Apple considering the company has had its hiccups (MobileMe anyone?).

Reward: Apple has a reputation to maintain. Apple is a walled garden. You get integrated hardware and software and a great interface. Apple controls everything. That’s part of the deal. If blacklisted applications were to diminish the Apple experience with crappy software a lot of the company’s secret sauce would be wasted.

Add it up and the reward category wins 3 to 1 over risk. Now Apple could revise its blacklist after complaints, but assuming the company doesn’t abuse its privileges the remote nuking capability may not be such a bad idea. As usual though, Apple operates in its own universe. Just imagine if Microsoft had a blacklist of apps and could nuke software remotely.

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This article has 11 comments:

  •  
    Aug 07 11:16 AM
    a voice of reason, i couldnt agree more, its to everyones benefit
    the phone communicates with apple often for updates etc and is just a form of that

    i tried a jailbroken gen 1 phone for a while and although i liked the additional features my phone was like the wild west never knowing when a rogue app could take me down

    i love the app store somewhat safe in the knowledge that 3rd part programs have been vetted and if something malicious slips through its gets fixed

    now i know there will be a bunch of outraged people but realistically its a great idea
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 11:24 AM
    Odd that noone realizes that Mac has become the EXACT big brother that it's first advertisement claimed it was fighting against. The windows camp has every device under the sun, while the Apple camp has 10 black and white products that all have to be used the same by everyone. Freaky.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 12:10 PM
    its hard to write a crappy app for a mac because the system uses a resource fork and a data fork in each document or action the app performs. the app calls the system for instance "give me a window" and the toolbox throws up the window and the app developer can go and assign functions to the menus and what not but since the system produces all this stuff for the app its hard for the app to affect the system itself (its a one way relationship) thats why macs are so hard to hack and why apps all have the same look and feel. since there are 2 forks it is not possible to hide commands in information like you can in certain command line interfaces which shall not be mentioned lest we have a sweaty fat guy start yelling "developer" at me
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 12:18 PM
    The iTunes App Store and the single-conduit model requires this level of management. It is neither right nor wrong, but a business model that every consumer has the choice to accept or reject with their dollars.

    If you bought an iPhone or Touch and didn't see this and more controls coming, you are naive.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 01:02 PM
    You make some good points here. Pros and Cons.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 02:20 PM
    Risk/reward for whom? While it may be a reward for Apple to be able to get away with spying on its customers because they will "stick", it is a huge risk/invasion of privacy for the customers. Its amazing to watch modern society creep toward a big brother environment while we citizens ignore, rationalize or even buy into greater and greater control. (look at China -- remotely operated microphones in taxicabs and England -- a CCTV watching virtually everybody everywhere all the time, to name only two that jump to mind) No iPhone for me until someone figures out how to keep my phone from reporting anything to anybody without my complete control. We need to wake up now or by the time we do, we'll wish we had earlier.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 07 03:10 PM
    The only way to add "illegal" apps is to "jailbreak"i... What do you folks think jailbreak means? Apple is responsible to make their gadgets work to perfection (as close as possible). These unapproved apps do not do anything but mess up Apples OS. I'd suggest "buying" apps from the App Store & let Apple solve the problems. Don't get ticked off because a cop catches you doing 80 in a 55 zone & gives you a ticket.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 08 09:11 AM
    Transparency is the key... Apple should clearly state their "policing" policy. It's reasonable and smart business to block/remove apps that are malicious degrading the device (iPhone) and/or service.

    But does this control/intervention extend to apps Apple deems in poor taste? It should NOT. A warning/rating similar to movies about violence, language, sexual content, etc. would suffice giving customers the choice is the Apple way.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 08 11:03 AM
    Of course everyone knows that one of the business security features that everyone was asking for was a Remote Wipe capability. Why is it so surprising that with Remote Wipe capability that there also isn't Remote Disable? This is an Enterprise Security FEATURE.
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 08 02:51 PM
    Benevolent dictator?
    Reply | Link to Comment
  •  
    Aug 10 09:09 PM
    I have no problem with Apple policing this APPS
    Reply | Link to Comment
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