Our comments and trackback policy You Link We Follow, You Comment We Promote
Mac Rumors has reported that Apple has introduced a blacklisting system in the iPhone OS 2.x updates which allow iPhones to check for malicious applications and call home, giving Apple the ability to deactivate them over the air.
According to Mac Rumors, Jonathan Zdziarski, author of iPhone Forensics, reveals (via iPhone Atlas) the remote url that Apple is using to keep a list of the offending applications:
https://iphone-services.apple.com/clbl/unauthorizedApps
This url appears to keep a list of black listed apps which appears to contain a test application name. Zdziarski explains:
“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."
This doesn’t sound good for Apple’s reputation, as there has already been a lot criticism on Mobile Me. There have been talks in Mac Rumors forums that this move is for security purposes and many Apple ‘fan boys’ don’t mind it. But let me remind all of us of a time when Microsoft was criticized for it’s WGA calling home behavior, when Sony had to face a lawsuit due to it’s root kit calling home, and when Adobe had to under go similar criticism from users. Why is Apple treated differently, when it has already been doing these things, like sneaking Safari in through Apple Update into your Windows OS, without your approval. Recently, it has also sneaked the Mobile Me control panel without consent with iTunes. How far are we going to tolerate Apple’s tactics?
Those who are defending Apple on this should remember that Microsoft, Sony and Adobe weren’t taking any unfair advantage of your system or gaining access to your very personal information either. Many will defend Apple on the basis of their EULA and that it already stated that, but why are Microsoft and others required to provide notifications for consent about anonymous gathering of data which can be used to improve quality of software.
Apple is being considered as a ‘Do no evil’ corporation, where as, the very basis on which it formed its cult following in 1984, with the ad telling people to think different and break free from the Big Brother’s spell. Now, the irony is that Apple itself is doing the same, and people have to wake up and realize that Apple is no different then other companies and it should be treated the same. We haven’t seen any company to be left alone after finding out that it uses a ‘call home’ feature, there certainly isn’t any reason for Apple to get away with it!
ooh…..this is scandalous. since you were able to find it….are you able to disable it?
Some thing fishy here..
you’re a . seriously, it’s to make sure the vast majority of users have a good user experience. I’d prefer that 100x over, then having the iPhone turn into a buggy piece of shit (ala MS product) due to poorly written applications.
oh wait, do I have a fanboy crying out of his ass?? I’m not surprised
get real, idiot.
Sorry dope, no fanboy. Haven’t owned a Mac since college- have had to deal with piece of shit PC’s the past 8 years (as an IT consultant).
I *have* owned an iPhone for over a year, and have already experienced first hand the side affects of poorly written iPhone applications (crashing, dramatic drop in phone responsiveness, crazy long sync times, etc.). In order for Apple to maintain the “elite” quality perception they have in the marketplace, the better nip the issue in the ass. Controlling/montoriting the software that runs on their hardware, in order to ensure the quality experience users expect, I believe is good thing.
although not a “fanboy”, I do own a substantial amount of apple stock, which probably influences my opinion on the matter.
We here at Startup Meme love Apple ourselves, and given the chance would shift to Macs. Infact I’m personally getting my iPhone next month too
We’re on board with the quality they want to provide with their products. But this seems unfair to other companies who were really blasted when such tactics were discovered against them. As long as the iPhone calls home just for the app checks, it’s good, but then again, I’d like to see them announce this publicly so that people would know why it’s there. Everyone knows that the average user doesn’t read the EULA.
we’re on the same page- tracking and building databases of personal information would be a real slap in the face. I certainly hope that isn’t happening, and don’t believe it to be- nor is there any evidence that it is.
I suspect Apple has simply established a system for ensuring the applications being placed on the iPhones 1) don’t break any laws, 2) don’t tarnish the overall user experience that consumers, and the media, expect. The primary thing that sets Apple apart from the competition is the superior user experience (iPod vs Zune/others, OSX vs. Winblows, iPhone vs. all others). Poorly written iPhone applications (if unchecked or uncontrolled), would put that at “superior product” perception (right or wrong) at risk.