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Exactly how much of the actual code is examined as part of Apple's app approval? What's to keep someone from creating a time-bomb app, that is benign until a c
by thwarted 17y ago
Exactly how much of the actual code is examined as part of Apple's app approval? What's to keep someone from creating a time-bomb app, that is benign until a certain date or signal is received? A game app that keeps a centralized high-score list on a server somewhere could use that as a back-channel to send flags to enable some kind of malicious mode.
In that case, Apple could remove stuff after the fact, but everyone who had already downloaded it would be affected. The only advantage is that Apple keeps developer documentation about who submitted which app, so the guilty parties are potentially traceable, but there's a chance even that could be social-engineered.
The openness of the Android platform actually allows the marketplace to meet the demand for verified apps, the same way SSL certs are supposed to be (but the market for SSL cert signing is geared toward the server end, not the consumer end, and they keep screwing up the high verification certs by making people jump through stupid hoops when they want them).
- xsmasher 17y agoSince iPhone apps are sandboxed your time bomb app is unlikely. Apps can access their own data and that's it. The iPhone app store also lists the creator of the app - either the person's name or or their company name. If you use a company name you must provide legal docs; that probably would have prevented this situation. Does the Android app store not have checks like that?