The frenzy around the iPhone “Kill Switch,” a piece of code thanks to which Apple could remotely shut down any app installed on the iPhone, started last week, after an independent developer, Jonathan Zdziarski, published the news on his blog.

Jonathan Zdziarski, who identified the “kill switch” while taking a closer look at an iPhone 3G, explained that the mechanism contains, among other things, a cache of unauthorized applications and a URL to a page on Apple’s servers where it is downloaded from time to time.

However, it seems like the power of the “Kill Switch” has been greatly exaggerated and even Zdziarski felt the need to set the record straight.

In a note on his blog he debunked several rumors. Zdziarski noted that the iPhone doesn’t spy on its owner and it doesn’t report illegal applications back to Apple.

He also said that the “Kill Switch" wasn’t used to ban NetShare, I am Rich, and PhoneSaber and it can’t be used to delete applications from the iPhone. He also said that the owner's GPS position isn’t reported back to Apple.

Apple initially did not have any comment about the “Kill Switch” issue, but yesterday in his interview for The Wall Street Journal, Steve Jobs confirmed its existence.

He explained that this mechanism is needed in case Apple inadvertently allows a malicious program 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," Jobs said.

However, even if it is built with the best intentions, the Kill Switch remains a sensitive issue, because there could be a lot of people out there unhappy knowing that Apple has the possibility to interfere with the applications installed on their iPhones. Also, due to its functions, the Kill Switch can also become a target for malicious attacks. Let's hope tha Apple knows whas is doing.