System and Security Info app banned by Apple

At times, the way Apple decides what apps to allow to be on the App Store and what apps it blocks seems arbitrary. Sometimes apps end up blocked or banned while there are other apps providing essentially the same functions on the store and allowed to continue operating. Apple has confused many by banning an app from a developer called Stefan Esser known as "System and Security Info."

This app was intended to allow iPhone users to know if the software that was running on the iPhone was authentic and to tell you if malware was present. The app was designed to allow the user to know if their device had been jailbroken without their knowledge. The app made it through three previous reviews apparently and at its forth review, it was banned.

The official reason that Apple gave for banning the app was that any app that provide incorrect diagnostic or inaccurate device data will be rejected. Apple said in its rejection notice, "We noticed that your app provides potentially inaccurate and misleading diagnostic functionality for iOS devices to the user. Currently, there is no publically available infrastructure to support iOS diagnostic analysis. Therefore, your app may report inaccurate information which could mislead or confuse your users. We encourage you to review your app concept and incorporate different content and features that are in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines."

Esser believes that his app was banned because Apple doesn't want users to get the idea that iOS could have security holes. Esser also says that his app is a system info tool that shows a process list and jailbreak status like many other apps currently available. Esser says that he won't be releasing a version of the app for jailbroken devices. Apple has offered no official comment about the removal of this app.

SOURCE: TheNextWeb