Apple removes apps from App Store over security concerns

Apple Inc said last week it had removed "a few" applications from its App Store, over concerns that the security of some users' personal data could be compromised in certain circumstances.

According to the company, apps threatened users' security by installing certificates that could data to monitoring by third parties.

However, the company did not disclose the number of apps it had removed.

"Apple is deeply committed to protecting customer privacy and security," an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement. "We are working closely with these developers to quickly get their apps back on the App Store, while ensuring customer privacy and security is not at risk."

Apps with so-called root certificates routed user data to servers for analysis, which offered an to network providers to view encrypted traffic, that left users vulnerable to data breaches.

"Apple is deeply committed to protecting customer privacy and security," an Apple spokeswoman said in a statement.

The removed apps included Been Choice, which had attracted attention for its ability to block advertising in apps.

According to an Apple spokeswoman the company would release a support page to help users remove the apps in question from their devices.

"We've removed a few apps from the App Store that install root certificates which enable the monitoring of customer network data that can in turn be used to compromise SSL/TLS security solutions," Apple said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

"We are working closely with these developers to quickly get their apps back on the App Store, while ensuring customer privacy and security is not at risk."

Data from mobile devices, even if it was encrypted, could be sent through an intermediary computer server and inspected.

Ads bring in revenue for many apps, including Apple News. The California-based technology giant shared revenue generated in any applications on its mobile devices.

With the newest software that powered mobile devices, users can block apps from pages while surfing the internet using Safari web browser but that capability is not extended to applications people use.

While blocking ads made surfing the net from iPhones or iPads faster and limited telecom data use, it also put paid to the means for websites to make money while providing free content or services.

A new study points out that iOS ad blockers could actually help users save time and money, apart from eliminating annoying ads. (See: Ad blockers help users browse faster and save money: NYT report).