Android Has Its Own Kill Switch

Back in August, we reported about the iPhone had a kill switch that Apple can trigger to get rid of an application it didn't like. It sounds draconian, of course, but when it comes to application termination via remote control, it may surprise you that Apple isn't alone. Google also has one for Android, but it's more of a precaution than anything else.

In the Android Market terms of service, Google expressly says that it might remotely remove an application from user phones. “Google may discover a product that violates the developer distribution agreement … in such an instance, Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion,” the terms, linked to from the phone, read.

You could say that the remote switch gives Google too much power, but my experience with IT security tells me that this is a good thing. With potentially thousands of Android users in the next couple of years, you'd want to have some sort of control over the platform in case something goes haywire.

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Android Has Its Own Kill Switch

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