Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I think you're the one that doesn't quite get it. Criminals and bad guys are fundamentally lazy. One reason they don't target iOS so much is becuase getting in isn't easy. Once Apple is forced to provide them with a way in via those who sideload, the sheer amount of malware for iOS with grow exponentially. And it will find its way inside. It always does. And once it happens, it won't be fixable. Why is that so complicated to understand?
This is partly true (that malware for iOS with grow exponentially). But criminals aren't fundamentally lazy -- they try hard to get into iOS now, but have a hard time doing so.
 
"the question is why the security features in place on macOS that protect against malicious code from software downloaded from the internet can't run on iOS"

The answer is 30% cut of revenue. IOS and MacOS aren't that different. Or... Apple is saying that IOS so sooo different from MacOS, that's is security is terribly unsafe which doesn't say much about IOS.

To date, no scandals on Android that has 80% MarketShare and allows sideloading... All the crap that's been from evil Apps have been apps Apple and Google circulated in their walled garden app stores.
This just keeps cracking me up.

It's like all these people think every Android handset in the world -- and there are a lot of them -- is infested with every sort of malware you could imagine literally all the time.

It's so silly. The Google Play store is not perfect, sure, but it's fine. It has problems. The App Store also has problems. That's the nature of the industry. But I'd feel totally confident downloading apps from the Google Play store -- because I would only download apps from developers I trusted, the same way I do it on all my devices, and always have.
 
You think regulators would force apple to lock down macOS?
I meant regulation may force Apple to open iOS to other sources of software. My bad, I was unclear about that.

Please, don't mindlessness accept it. Do a bit of research and come to an informed understanding of how an operating system works, or how networked security works.
Will do.

You're free to hyperbole (or, straw-man arguments, for that matter --- this is a public forum). But, to address your statement: I wasn't using hyperbole as a straw-man.
Yeah, I think we're done discussing this.
 
Okay, I don't own a smart phone.
I have Android tablets including Amazon.
I installed the Google Play Store. Never had any issues, but some Google Play Store Apps are not compatible and I don't have a leg to stand on because Amazon doesn't support it.
Same also happens with my official Android tablet from Samsung.
There is only one incompatible Google Play Store app where I can install an APK instead.
For me that's four of five apps so far I can't use under any circumstances.
A funny thing ... Windows 10/11 has an S mode. There is no antivirus software included and you are locked down to the Microsoft Store.
You can opt-out through the Store, but you can't return to S mode.
I believe plenty don't take their privacy seriously.
I update my Play Store apps everyday and scan with Play Protect.
I also run Malwarebytes as needed.
Android devices don't get lifetime OS updates. Maybe two or three.
I suspect many Mac users don't see the need for antivirus software. I never did. Have a feeling Linux users don't either.
As a Windows user, I wouldn't boot without it.
I feel Apple's refusal to unlock a dead killer's phone in San Bernardino, is a decision Tim Cook is going to stick with.
 
Let me clarify: can you provide evidence for both: only 1% of android users side load and: most of the malware and scams on Android come straight for the official app store.
What the OP said is true. Do your own research. There is a ton of information about this you can simply search for.
Only a moron downloads an app from a risky source.

Until the ban on gambling apps was lifted, the only way to install the Pennsylvania Lottery app was by sideloading on Android.

Amazon's app store often gave away paid apps free, but.... you had to sideload their appstore. Sideloading opens up alternative app stores for loading, that's what Apple's worried about. Not ******* or other apps, but app stores being sideloaded.
 
And yet Android appears to be doing okay.
Android appears to be doing OK -- as in: it exists on more mobile devices? That's true. It also has way more malware. I guess if Apple's goal would change to "make iOS more ubiquitous, no matter the cost", then sure, they could reduce the costs of their devices and open up the walled garden.

Maybe Google is just that much better at programming and stuff than Apple is? That's kinda sad.
Google has some of the most talented engineers on the planet. I've gone through their interview process, and it's no wonder why. That doesn't mean that they have a more secure OS.
 
Yeah, I think we're done discussing this.
? The only way to win is not to play.

What the OP said is true. Do your own research. There is a ton of information about this you can simply search for.
Only a moron downloads an app from a risky source.

Until the ban on gambling apps was lifted, the only way to install the Pennsylvania Lottery app was by sideloading on Android.

Amazon's app store often gave away paid apps free, but.... you had to sideload their appstore. Sideloading opens up alternative app stores for loading, that's what Apple's worried about. Not ******* or other apps, but app stores being sideloaded.
Apple is terrified of having to work for all that money they charge developers. Granted, they do provide a service and they should be compensated for it, and I'd never argue otherwise. Still, they're terrified of competition. Right now, developers have no choice but to use the App Store. If they did have another choice, Apple would actually have to compete to make the App Store attractive to developers. They'd have to -- dare I even say it? -- compromise. They wouldn't get to rule like gods from on high, handing down fiats that cannot be questioned.

I have no doubt that everything about sideloading strikes black terror into their hearts, but it hits them right where they live: their nearly psychotic need to be in total control, and their profits.
 
What the OP said is true. Do your own research. There is a ton of information about this you can simply search for.
Only a moron downloads an app from a risky source.
The burden of proof is on the poster. Forum rules dictate that if proof is requested, then poster needs to provide proof, at risk of suspension.

Until the ban on gambling apps was lifted, the only way to install the Pennsylvania Lottery app was by sideloading on Android.

Amazon's app store often gave away paid apps free, but.... you had to sideload their appstore. Sideloading opens up alternative app stores for loading, that's what Apple's worried about. Not ******* or other apps, but app stores being sideloaded.
I don't deny that there is most certainly a financial motivation behind this, but that doesn't discount facts. Security doesn't care about financial motivations --- Apple just happens to be using the fact of security as their PR face for their motivations.
 
All my questions were not answered.
Here’s one:
Why does it always have to be the Apple way or the highway?
Are you asking: "why, if I'm using iOS, do I have to use iOS?" or something like "why, if I'm using an iPhone, do I have to use iOS?"

The former: I don't know if there's any way around that. Either you're using it, or you're not.

The latter: This is a great question. I'd love to see Apple allow loading a different OS onto iPhones. I mean, this would be akin to buying a Mac for the sole purpose of gaming, but if you want to do it, you ought to be able to.
 
Apple is terrified of having to work for all that money they charge developers. Granted, they do provide a service and they should be compensated for it, and I'd never argue otherwise. Still, they're terrified of competition. Right now, developers have no choice but to use the App Store. If they did have another choice, Apple would actually have to compete to make the App Store attractive to developers. They'd have to -- dare I even say it? -- compromise. They wouldn't get to rule like gods from on high, handing down fiats that cannot be questioned.
Android is doing pretty well. Seems like competition does exist.
 
All my questions were not answered.
Here’s one:
Why does it always have to be the Apple way or the highway?
See, that's a big part of my problem with all this. It would be different if Apple were wise and benevolent dictators, but more and more that is not the case. They're losing the plot and I have a feeling their compulsive need for maintaining maximal control of everything all the time is eventually going to cost them everything they are so desperately trying to hold onto, when if they would just ease up and mellow out a little bit they could probably skate by the legions of government regulators that are so eager to make their lives miserable, mostly in the name of looking busy, I suspect, at a time when it's increasingly fashionable to hate on Big Tech.

Apple's rigidity and laser focus on its vision for How Things Ought To Be made it the most successful company in the world, but if they're not careful it will also be their downfall.
 
I think it's best to keep side loading disabled. The benefit of having an incredibly small Percentage of users being able to side load a small number of app is far outweighed by the safety that comes to hundreds of millions of users be keeping it disabled.

I have seen what happens to peoples laptops when they aren't tech savvy. My grandad clicked on every damn pop up that said "click here to speed up your computer" and installed everything to the point where the laptop was unusable without hours of cleaning it. All he used the laptop for was web browsing and MS Word.

Now imagine that same thing happening on a device that has your location, contacts, private photos, messages, emails, reminders... etc
 
  • Like
Reactions: Unregistered 4U
The problem here is not side loading. It is very specifically Apple's nanny review policies. It is very specifically Apple's no compete policy. It is the fact that there are many non-security violating apps that Apple routinely denies, just because they can.

It is this freedom reducing, censoring, politically correct, and nannying behaviors that drives the need for side-loading. Apple is covering everyones eyes with this phony security BS.
 
Please return your iMac 5k Retina then. It's running a dangerous OS littered with Malware, that's according to Craig F himself!
Well, yes, this is very interesting. Someone should use Craigs public statement against Apple. Sue Apple for selling hardware that is intentionally insufficiently secured against malware, putting users at “unacceptable” risk.

If at the end we can’t get sideloading, maybe we can enforce a macOS lockdown, that would be funny.
Safety first!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Mockletoy
There is NO valid argument what so ever for NOT allowing this.
I should be able to put anything I want on my device and take ALL risk associated with it. ITS MINE

Having said that: I would never do this due to security reasons just like I dont jailbreak. But it should be the users choice completely. Not Apples.
 
It is so obvious why Apple wants to keep the app store, they want their 20% cut of the price. They are making a lot of money. They be nuts to give this up with no fight.

On the other hand way don't companies who want to put apps on IOS create web-based apps? This is a very simple way to bypass the apps store. Why not? Because no one will pay money for web based apps.

This argument has little to do with security. It is all about how gets paid and how much.
 
The IT team where I worked had serious email issues for a few weeks.
Turned out one person with an infected Android device would get on to our wifi and reek havoc.
Took a while to track down who it was.
Now the network has more robust firewalls and guest access is very limited.

This is what could happen with iPhones that sideload.

I'm in total agreement with Apple on this... you want to sideload? Buy an Android device.
That's your freedom of choice.

I have both types of devices. My job requires supporting users with both.
Always the worst phone calls are working out the different skins for Android and what labels and where settings are.
The app devs also seem to have more issues with Android code and find it hard to test all the devices out there.

One store I trust with my credit card to buy apps.
One store I install free things only or use a PlayStore card the few times I need something.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: dk001
It is so obvious why Apple wants to keep the app store, they want their 20% cut of the price. They are making a lot of money. They be nuts to give this up with no fight.

On the other hand way don't companies who want to put apps on IOS create web-based apps? This is a very simple way to bypass the apps store. Why not? Because no one will pay money for web based apps.

This argument has little to do with security. It is all about how gets paid and how much.
I love when people are upset about Apple having a store that takes a 20% cut...

Do you shop in physical stores?
What cut do they keep?
The markups are there to keep infrastructure in place so you can buy things conveniently.
Offline or online. It's called business.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.