In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Steve Jobs confirmed the existence of the ability by Apple to remotely deactivate malicious software programs on the iPhone. Speaking to the WSJ, he commented "Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull," he says. At the same time, Mr Jobs confirmed that Apple had sold $1 million worth of applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch per day in the first month of sales.

Steve Jobs also talked about some of the applications that have been removed from the App Store, such as the now infamous "I Am Rich" app, that did little, but sold for $999.99. He deemed it a judgment caLL to remove that application, whilst others breached agreed use of the App Store.

Near the end of the article, the use of the remote 'switch' that could deactivate an application was discussed...

Apple raised hackles in computer-privacy and security circles when an independent engineer discovered code inside the iPhone that suggested iPhones routinely check an Apple Web site that could, in theory trigger the removal of the undesirable software from the devices.

Mr. Jobs confirmed such a capability exists, but argued that Apple needs it in case it inadvertently allows a malicious program -- one that stole users' personal data, for example -- to be distributed to iPhones through the App Store. "Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull" he says.

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