iOS 4.3 makes it harder for kids to go nuts with in-app purchases

A tweak delivered via the iOS 4.3 update is designed to prevent kids from inadvertently racking up huge in-app purchase bills to their parents' iTunes accounts. iOS 4.3 now has a separate 15-minute time window for making in-app purchases after a new app has been downloaded, requiring a user to enter a password before any new in-app purchases can be made. The move comes just a month after complaints from irate parents inspired US Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) to request the FTC investigate the matter.

Apple spokesperson Trudy Muller confirmed the change in a statement to The Washington Post. "We are proud to have industry-leading parental controls with iOS," Muller told the Post. "With iOS 4.3, in addition to a password being required to purchase an app on the App Store, a reentry of your password is now required when making an in-app purchase."

In previous versions of iOS, entering your iTunes password to make a purchase started a 15-minute timer. This would allow you to make multiple purchases without having to reenter your password each time, but would reasonably prevent someone else from using your iTunes account to make expensive purchases without your knowledge—especially if your iDevice was stolen.