Sideloading Apps Would 'Break' the Security and Privacy of iPhone, Says Tim Cook

[Lemon Olive]

If we lived in an anarchist system, regulations wouldn't apply to anyone or anything. We don't live under such a system. My sense is most of the people arguing on behalf of little old Apple aren't anarchists at all, but rather enjoy government regulation, just not of their favorite company.

Despite the fact that we don't live in total anarchy, we do and have to live right on the edge of it. As free people born to a free world, the only restraints on us are those that we impose on ourselves, collectively, for the greater good. But we have always reluctantly added new restraints because we are inherently free.

So yes, any time there is this kind of discussion, it bears asking the questions about what right do we have to regulate them.

Just because you really really like your iPhone isn't a reason. Just because the iPhone is front of 1.5 billion people every day isn't a reason either.

 

[subjonas]

if a user wants more freedom and control, there are plenty of other phones on the market

Just want to clarify this point, for all intents and purposes there’s only one other phone: android.

 

[mrochester]

Sorry just keep dancing apple and saying that lie. The choice are open it up to side loading or have a way for apps to have their own payment processor and not having to pay the Apple Tax. It is really that simple.

Why are they the only two choices? Why isn’t ‘leave it as it is’ A valid choice?

 

[Apple_Robert]

I agree with Tim on this matter. People need to turn their attention to the respective developers and ask that an app be made available to the respective App Store.

 

[mrochester]

If we lived in an anarchist system, regulations wouldn't apply to anyone or anything. We don't live under such a system. My sense is most of the people arguing on behalf of little old Apple aren't anarchists at all, but rather enjoy government regulation, just not of their favorite company.

Government regulation is fine when it fixes an actual problem. This is not a problem that needs fixing, it already works fine.

 

[Maconplasma]

I wouldn't surprised one bit if the people here arguing over having the privilege to side load into iOS account for less than 10 people here.

 

[827538]

The mere notion of BitTorrent ever making it onto the App Store made me laugh so hard I got a headache. Thanks.

I never said they’d allow it, but if it was there then I’d basically have everything I needed, perhaps steam too if they support M1 based games.

 

[TVreporter]

Cook not expecting to be CEO within a decade is the biggest news. Way to bury the story guys!

 

[threesixty360]

Then apparently Mac OS is a cess pool of malware and privacy violating spy apps?

Well yeah macOS did have a lot of malware and exploits. No where near what windows did / does but enough that Apple have put various security efforts in place (App Store, not being able to run packages from the net straight away etc).

But as I said before, the macos is for personal computers and part of that is more flexibility in return for more issues.

iOS is for devices that need to run all the time and not breakdown. Especially the phone which is used for emergencies. Whole different level of uptime needed vs pc’s.

 

[hungvn]

Dear Tim,

Sideloading apps would primarily break App Store revenues and its de facto monopoly, you know it, we know that you know, and you know that we know that you know it.

The fact that Bitcoin scams pass through the App Store review like air passes through a sieve, speaks volumes about the quality and security of your infrastructure.

Now pull the other one, it's got bells on.

If u love side-loading the app that much then go with Android. Not everyone are tech savy as u. There is reason why Apple is so popular to the average users!

 

[hungvn]

Nonsense. It's about power & control over iOS. Macs exist just fine with the ability to sideload apps.

There are people who own iphones but do not own a Mac. So comparing two systen here does not make sense.

 

[BeefCake 15]

He should never have been made CEO to begin with

Being angry at a Mac not having 32gb RAM doesn't mean you throw the baby out with the bath water...Apple has flourished under his leadership

 

[Techwatcher]

If security was the reasoning, then macOS would be locked to the macOS App Store as well.

 

[Techwatcher]

He should never have been made CEO to begin with

Bad take. He actually is more lenient than Steve Jobs was. We wouldn't even have an Apple Pencil for iPads and would be using our fingers in 2021. And I like Steve Jobs. Just pointing out the facts.

 

[Andropov]

I was talking about the type of person you were mentioning in your post…

Whoops. Sorry I misinterpreted your post

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

Security should be top priority.

 

[jonblatho]

I never said they’d allow it, but if it was there then I’d basically have everything I needed, perhaps steam too if they support M1 based games.

"Once [BitTorrent] ends up on the App Store" seems to presuppose that it will, eventually, end up on the App Store, which is patently absurd in the current state of the App Store.

 

[Dom_]

Uh..... yes it’s an issue on macOS. I have actually seen malware on a Mac before. Never on an iPhone.

Just search for macos malware on the rise in google. Do some research.

Believe me, I am well aware of the dangers regarding macOS. And I am not saying that it is perfect. Yet, neither is iOS. iOS-devices have had exploits (and probably still have many we aren't even aware of), there is no perfect security when it comes to software (and probably when it comes to hardware, too).
And I think there still is some potential making macOS more secure. Actually, I am sure Apple is working on it right now (by e.g. disabling kernel extensions). However, in my opinion, both is possible: being able to choose the way you want to use your device while at the same time being protected from bad actors.

 

[Shirasaki]

Does not take too many pages to realise those common talking points got repeated once again here.
Duopoly=competition?
Willing to believe everything a private company tell you but get skeptical about something government would say?
Willing to let private company do whatever they want?
The list probably can go a bit longer than that.
Me would undoubtedly believe Tim Cook saying this cause he cares more about App Store revenue than user privacy. It’s just that saying protecting user privacy echoes user demands better and people would feel Apple is doing good thing for them, which we Apple device users have paid a hefty premium for. Well, only Tim Cook and maybe his inner circles know exactly why he says that.

 

[ajfahey]

A simple solution would be to allow a user to select side loading as an option but that by selecting that option Apple has no liability for the consequences. All apple has to do is permanently record the fact that the user has allowed side loading such that all warranties, implied or otherwise, are terminated.

Let the market decide.

 

[koruki]

if not being able to sideload is so HORRIBLE then iOS can be deemed horrible so then go to Android? What about the majority of users that are happy with the current arrangement? If anything, its only Apple's marketshare to lose by taking this stand.

 

[koruki]

A simple solution would be to allow a user to select side loading as an option but that by selecting that option Apple has no liability for the consequences. All apple has to do is permanently record the fact that the user has allowed side loading such that all warranties, implied or otherwise, are terminated.

Let the market decide.

Except Apple's devices are so closely entwined that they can pose a threat to multiple devices, right now you can literally copy paste between your Macbook and iOS device.. that's how closely linked they are.

 

[Deliro]

Enough talking Timmy, it’s time for the next apple event.

Commercial? I’m over these. I enjoyed watching the live events, but these overproduced commercials don’t have the same appeal to me.

 

[Rochy Bay]

I agree that Apple should be able to set the terms for the thing they've created from scratch.

And I think its ridiculous when they claim that security is the reason, and not control and revenue.

That thing they created from scratch is Nothing without content creators and innovators. Its a scam.

 

[BootsWalking]

Well if you want Apple to pass on the profit you’ve also got to let them pass on everything else too. You can’t expect them to do the work and get none of the money!

Please reread my posts. I said Apple should be paid a one-time fee by a developer who wants their app certified. All costs incurred to market and distribute the app would be on the developer.