Sideloading Bill Would Allow 'Malware, Scams and Data-Exploitation to Proliferate,' Says Apple

[mi7chy]

Don't like security of the system to reduce. Sideloading can do that.

Aside from fake worst case scenario, how is downloading Fortnite from Apple any different from getting it from Epic? It's the same binary and checksum. That's also how it works if I, for example, sideload Blender on MacOS. Many customers that were inconvenienced by Apple's excessive control abuse by blocking Fortnite would welcome the ability to sideload direct from Epic.

 

[code-m]

I don't like the precedent for more government control over things. We have enough of this crap already.

Nothing stopping Apple to open up the AppStore already, why wait and try to come across as a victim. Implement a toggle and message, that’s it.

 

[Shirasaki]

Dumb phone would serve purpose better.

Yeah, make iPhone dumb phone again.

 

[code-m]

I believe you misunderstood my comment, ?

If Apple doesn’t like US gov’s policies they don’t need sell in the US. US gov created this country, it is their platform, their rules. Apple can just sell in other countries. Or they can just compete in the free market by creating their own country where they make the rules. US gov is just trying to create policies to help consumers against big companies.
/s

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yeah, make iPhone dumb phone again.

All joking aside - I have some older relatives that would use and love an iPhone & iPad that just had Apples own Apps

They use Safari, Mail, Messages and Photos/Camera

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

I don't know how Apple have kept the Mac so safe for all these years with being able to install whatever you like. It boggles the mind that we live in a world where our computers are at dire risk every second we use them. And people accept that as ok. How can we all be ok with this? We should be approaching our local government representative and asking them to put our civil rights first. Let's lock down all of our software so we can be sure we're safe. If Apple control everything nothing wrong can happen. There's no oxygen left for digital 'bad actors' so they'll just go away and target Android and Windows instead.

Let's go, Apple! 🔒✔

 

[nebojsak]

All joking aside - I have some older relatives that would use and love an iPhone & iPad that just had Apples own Apps

They use Safari, Mail, Messages and Photos/Camera

Do they frequently exchange emails with retired military personnel from Nigeria?

 

[vipergts2207]

I'm not sure. Some, from what I can gather here, want the government to come in regulate Apple till it bleeds...obviously something I am not for -- especially since at this time their business practices have not been found illegal in a court of law. However, there seem to be a few here and there who seem to care about gaming companies.

Few care about gaming companies in what sense? I care about their actions, like Microsoft (I realize they’re not just a gaming company, but it’s a very important business to them) buying up Activision. I’m completely against that move and further consolidation in the gaming market. I think you’re conflating people not taking the bait of your whataboutism with people not caring about anti-trust issues in gaming. We’re on an Apple-focused news site and forum, we’re generally here to talk about Apple, not Sony or civil asset forfeiture laws. If you want to discuss gaming and anti-trust laws with people, I’m sure there are other places you can go where the people there would love to do so. But don’t get upset or indignant just because folks on this site are (unsurprisingly) talking about Apple.

 

[code-m]

I can then ask you why are you triggered with Apples walled garden ecosystem when it's been like that for over a decade? Why are you triggered now when other models like gaming consoles have existed?

Doesn’t trigger me one bit whatsoever. Keep it close or open it does not effect me, if prefer it open but hey it’s Apple who is claiming that customers will be harmed and it’s system compromised not me. I prefer the choice be provided and option available to activate it to the user but hey it’s too much to ask for when the bottom line profits is in jeopardy.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Do they frequently exchange emails with retired military personnel from Nigeria?

They actually some lotto winnings waiting for them over there!
First they need to send over $10,000 -- then the Nigerians will send over the 5 Million Dollars they won.

So cool!

 

[nebojsak]

I don't know how Apple have kept the Mac so safe for all these years with being able to install whatever you like.

Mostly common sense and proper basic education on the users' side. Like drivers, big machine operators, etc.

 

[Ethosik]

Sounds like you are enabling your grandparents rather than teach them the basics of personal information security. It seems you have involuntary overstretched yourself and rather than educate you have chosen to encourage by being a rescuer. I have news for you these people you rescue even though you are well intentioned will drain your energy.

Teach a man to fish vice feeding a man to fish, comes to mind.

I have attempted to train them about security practices. You essentially need to be a security expert. Try teaching people in their 70s and 80s about security. They will never get it.

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

I believe you misunderstood my comment, ?

Oh oops!
Though you were talking about US gov!

 

[Shirasaki]

If Apple doesn’t like US gov’s policies they don’t need sell in the US. US gov created this country, it is their platform, their rules. Apple can just sell in other countries. Or they can just compete in the free market by creating their own country where they make the rules. US gov is just trying to create policies to help consumers against big companies.
/s

With all jokes aside, this probably could be the solution to go: apple as a country to use Apple devices in.

 

[Ethosik]

Aside from fake worst case scenario, how is downloading Fortnite from Apple any different from getting it from Epic? It's the same binary and checksum. That's also how it works if I, for example, sideload Blender on MacOS. Many customers that were inconvenienced by Apple's excessive control abuse by blocking Fortnite would welcome the ability to sideload direct from Epic.

Because it already happened on Android - and is not a worst case scenario?

Impostor 'Fortnite' Android Apps Are Already Spreading Malware

New analysis from mobile security firm Lookout shows that malware authors are taking full advantage of 'Fortnite' ditching the Google Play Store.

www.wired.com

 

[Ethosik]

I don't know how Apple have kept the Mac so safe for all these years with being able to install whatever you like. It boggles the mind that we live in a world where our computers are at dire risk every second we use them. And people accept that as ok. How can we all be ok with this? We should be approaching our local government representative and asking them to put our civil rights first. Let's lock down all of our software so we can be sure we're safe. If Apple control everything nothing wrong can happen. There's no oxygen left for digital 'bad actors' so they'll just go away and target Android and Windows instead.

Let's go, Apple! ?✔

Because macOS is pointless compared to Windows for malware writers. That is the only advantage macOS has. They obviously won't share the same flaws because they are obviously different, but you can't argue that if macOS and Windows were reversed, macOS would still be as safe as it is.

iOS marketshare on the other hand is very large so iOS will get hit hard when this opens.

 

[vipergts2207]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. It makes no sense to make up a rule that applies only to Apple.

If they are going to force one company to invest in researching and developing a platform, building services and a market, setting up checks and balances, and then re-engineering it to allow people to circumvent all that makes it both secure and profitable, then they’ll need to apply the same rules to all companies large and small.

The ruling would essentially allow anyone to install anything on other people's cars, TV’s, Xbox's, PlayStations, Nintendos, tractors… everything... and not just as a result of a user's actions. Think about auto-updates. After all, we're ultimately just talking about computers and their platforms/systems. Such a ruling to allow side-loading has implications across all hardware in all industries. Even in healthcare. Another example. Say a hospital doesn't want to pay the service fees for their MRI, and a competitor provides a cheaper interface, updates, and calibration. Obviously, GE will be required to provide an interface that allows side loading their competitors' features.

Such a ruling would demand that engineers invest time and resources to create systems to support loading of 3rd party apps and services, which circumvent, replace, and alter all sorts of user experiences and services. It's not even a stretch. It's just a platform. For example, farmers have been fighting John Deere for years now, and with such a ruling, they could be forced to build ways to open up their systems and allow farmers to alter, replace, and diagnose better. Does everyone win with such open systems? Maybe. Maybe not. Another would be gaming consoles. They'd better brace themselves for it. Gaming consoles would become nothing more than lightweight computers (they are, but) they also would be required to engineer the systems to facilitate circumventing/side-loading past the business models. Has anyone consulted with Nintendo, Sony, or Xbox teams about the impact it will have on their companies and platforms?

In short, we're talking about legislating how platforms and hardware should be developed, forcing some overhead to develop those systems to allow competitors to circumvent or change their behavior, sandboxed or not, it's legislation of engineering more open systems in all industries. Interesting idea indeed.

It seems like you left your argument out in the ice and snow storm hitting the Midwest, because it sure looks like the slipperiest of slopes.

 

[Analog Kid]

I don't remember him claiming a % of users who want to sideload apps. Still waiting for you to come up with some relevant sources for that.

I suppose I can change “want to” to “do”, but I don’t see how that has any material impact on the point given that Android users who want to sideload can side load and therefore likely do sideload.

And I now have no idea why I’ve spent so much time trying to resolve your demand for precision in my language when you’ve struggled over so many posts to clarify your own meaning.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It seems like you left your argument out in the ice and snow storm hitting the Midwest, because it sure looks like the slipperiest of slopes.

If Apple isn't allowed to dictate everything about iOS -- civilization will COLLAPSE!!!

This would be the first step towards ... "the end"

 

[mrat93]

Why? You wouldn’t want your privacy to be exposed. It is a big threat. It will open up the gates to the malware.

View attachment 1953447

https://www.apple.com/privacy/docs/Building_a_Trusted_Ecosystem_for_Millions_of_Apps_A_Threat_Analysis_of_Sideloading.pdf

Just don’t download things from untrusted sources? I have no issues with Windows or macOS.

 

[code-m]

I have attempted to train them about security practices. You essentially need to be a security expert. Try teaching people in their 70s and 80s about security. They will never get it.

How about informing them not to provide any personal information such as SSN, banking info, etc to any email or website they visit unless it’s the site they visit. This is not rocket science, elderly people get scammed everyday even with a basic touch tone phone, mail, solicitors, etc. At some point maybe these things are not in good use to be used by some as their cause more injury to themselves for example driving a car that could injure or kill themselves and others while operating it.

 

[Ethosik]

If Apple isn't allowed to dictate everything about iOS -- civilization will COLLAPSE!!!

This would be the first step towards ... "the end"

It doesn't have a monopoly on app installs. Google Play store does App installs. This is the problem with making the market so narrow. Sony has a monopoly on Playstation game licensing.

 

[Ethosik]

How about informing them not to provide any personal information such as SSN, banking info, etc to any email or website they visit unless it’s the site they visit. This is not rocket science, elderly people get scammed everyday even with a basic touch tone phone, mail, solicitors, etc. At some point maybe these things are not in good use to be used by some as their cause more injury to themselves for example driving a car that could injure or kill themselves and others while operating it.

You just can't comprehend how gullable or not smart with security people are. I have trained them....over and over and over and over and over again. What is the definition of insanity? So I got them an iPad instead.

 

[code-m]

With all jokes aside, this probably could be the solution to go: apple as a country to use Apple devices in.

I can see the shareholders sell off the stock and cause much harm.

Actually the US will just make demands like China and Russia so it will not work.

 

[vipergts2207]

I don't think Microsoft should be too noisy about this. I think them purchasing Activision Blizzard is way more anti-competitive than what Apple has done with iOS. It was even to the point where Sony had to "remind" Microsoft to keep their cross-platform deals.

I hope they are noisy. Let’s put the kibosh on that deal now.