iPhone 3G has a kill switch according to Steve Jobs

[JimmyR]

Guys, I don't think this is as bad as you think.

This is the way I understand it.
Each developer of iPhone apps is issued a developer certificate and a digital signature which they use to digitally sign apps before they get sent to apple for approval. Apple then adds their final signature to it after approval and before it goes on sale. When the apps is downloaded the iPhone checks these signatures to see if the app should be allowed to run. Since each developer uses a unique digital signature, if a security threat occurs, apple can revoke a particular developers certificate. Once they revoke the certificate, apps written by that developer wont run anymore.

I believe that this kill switch is actually the mechanism of revoking developer certificates. So they're not actually probing the phones, or invading our privacy, but just managing developer certificates.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[iLobster]

Originally Posted by BigCiX

so can this killswitch remove jailbroken apps too?

Doesn't seem like it. Jailbroken apps do not have any digital signing and are not loaded through the apps store. They are already unauthorized by Apple, so if Apple could remotely prevent them from running they would have done so already.

[chrismmm]

Originally Posted by JimmyR

Guys, I don't think this is as bad as you think.

This is the way I understand it.
Each developer of iPhone apps is issued a developer certificate and a digital signature which they use to digitally sign apps before they get sent to apple for approval. Apple then adds their final signature to it after approval and before it goes on sale. When the apps is downloaded the iPhone checks these signatures to see if the app should be allowed to run. Since each developer uses a unique digital signature, if a security threat occurs, apple can revoke a particular developers certificate. Once they revoke the certificate, apps written by that developer wont run anymore.

I believe that this kill switch is actually the mechanism of revoking developer certificates. So they're not actually probing the phones, or invading our privacy, but just managing developer certificates.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I have heard this before and yes it is common to take this approach with dev personnel.

[theevilone]

I do not like the idea, it's my phone I paid for it it's mine hear me Jobs. So I killed the kill switch.

[cliffeman]

if you are that adament about the kill switch, BossPrefs can disable it if you are jailbroken. I just happen to come across it this morning.

[Witness]

Originally Posted by cliffeman

if you are that adament about the kill switch, BossPrefs can disable it if you are jailbroken. I just happen to come across it this morning.

what is the preference called?

[cliffeman]

Originally Posted by lj23witness

what is the preference called?

If you goto more on the top right, it's at the bottom of the list.

[Witness]

Originally Posted by cliffeman

If you goto more on the top right, it's at the bottom of the list.

thanks , i didnt know there was a 2.12 version , im on 2.10 , im gonna go download it right now

[SmartAlx]

HAH! I KNEW I could count on them! I was hoping that the killswitch (being buggy) might be the reason why all of my apps are crashing. But too bad. Seems that there is another bigger problem than a confused killswitch.

[Lincoln]

Originally Posted by SmartAlx

HAH! I KNEW I could count on them! I was hoping that the killswitch (being buggy) might be the reason why all of my apps are crashing. But too bad. Seems that there is another bigger problem than a confused killswitch.

Why would the apps be buggy because a kill switch? The purpose of it is to remove apps, not make them buggy.