iOS 4.3 Now Password Protects In-App Purchases

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If you’re a parent who lets their kids use an iPad or iPod Touch, you may be aware of the danger that is in-app purchases. There are several apps like Smurfs’ Village and Fishes that disguise in-app purchases (for real money) as being purchased with play money. So, Little Johnny buys 10,000 new fishes for his fish tank, and Mom ends up with a $1,500 bill from iTunes. This has become a growing concern for parents, and now Apple has cracked down on this in the new version of iOS – iOS 4.3, which will require the user to re-enter their password whenever they try to make an in-app purchase.

Previously, users could disable in-app purchases via the settings menu. This was problematic for some parents because they would have to re-enable it for when when they wanted to make an in-app purchase. Plus, kids are kids who’s to say they couldn’t figure out how to active them?

This whole in-app controversy came to a head a few weeks ago when US Congressman Edward Markey (D-MA) asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the practice and these apps that are allegedly trying to trick kids. Apple has been careful to try to avoid any sort of government intervention in their practices as of late, so the password protecting of the in-app purchases could be another move to fend off the possibility of the government coming by Apple and snooping in their business.

iOS 4.3 is the new version and it’s out today. It’s shipping on the iPad 2 and should be coming to the first iPad, the iPhone and iPod Touches sometime soon via an iTunes update.