Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2011/12/09/win_8_store_kill_switch/

Microsoft arms Win8 store apps with remote self-destruct

The power to make problems disappear

By Gavin Clarke

Posted in Software, 9th December 2011 14:01 GMT

Microsoft has added a kill switch to the Windows Store that’ll let Redmond remove apps from Windows 8 beta machines.

Mention of the kill switch is buried deep within the text of the terms-of-use for the Windows Store for Windows 8, which were published this week. According to Microsoft’s red tape, here:

In cases where your security is at risk, or where we’re required to do so for legal reasons, you may not be able to run apps or access content that you previously acquired or purchased a license for.

In cases where we remove a paid app from your Windows 8 Beta device not at your direction, we may refund to you the amount you paid for the license.

Microsoft wouldn’t be the first online app store provider to give itself the power to remotely take apps off of customers devices once in their hands. Apple’s App Store and Google’s Android Market also has them. ®