Iphone apps and security

Question

When the Apple evaluates an application for inclusion in the App Store, is security one of the things they look at? Specifically, I have personal and private data on my iPhone that I would certainly not want a third party application looking at and then sending it to some server on the internet without even being aware of it (I think they call that theft). Is that something Apple checks before allowing a third party application into the App Store?
Thanks,
Rob

Answer 1

Yes, App store submissions by developers (be they new products or updates to existing products) are screened.
You can read some info here - http://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/
To quote part of that link's text:
"Apple provides explicit language in its agreement with iPhone developers regarding prohibited categories of applications, for example:
“Applications may be rejected if they contain content or materials of any kind (text, graphics, images, photographs, sounds, etc.) that in Apple’s reasonable judgment may be found objectionable, for example, materials that may be considered obscene, pornographic, or defamatory; and
Applications must not contain any malware, malicious or harmful code, program, or other internal component (e.g. computer viruses, trojan horses, ‘backdoors’) which could damage, destroy, or adversely affect other software, firmware, hardware, data, systems, services, or networks.”
And we also provide a reference library that can be accessed by members of the iPhone Developer Program that lists helpful information such as Best Practices and How To Get Started."