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

[icanhazmac]

Do people who want iOS always locked down and fully controlled by Apple also want macOS to go that route?

Would love it.

 

[dk001]

LULz, that's not true. Look at the countless Android apps that have been found to steal personal data and are packed with other malware.

You really need to take a step back and think about your argument.

Both App Store and Play Store allow some bad apps through. The headline stuff is all regarding Store Apps. As Google and Apple shut down lines of access, shady developers find new ways to get through.

Think about this:
- Less than 1% sideload on Android.
- Less than 1% jailbreak on iOS.

So if you allow side loading on iOS, where does this massive "OMG DOOM AND GLOOM WE ARE ALL GETTING MALWARE" come from?

Nothing posted here supports the OMG D&G scenario Apple and Apple supporters are attempting to use.

 

[jz0309]

The "Doom and Gloom" rhetoric with some here is sad considering that realistically looking at things lays their arguments to rest. But will they look? Nope.

Sure, continue to live in your dream world where no one will ever go and create malware…

 

[dk001]

Let people have the ability to sideload but make it clear that if they do and something nefarious happens that Apple is not liable

Okay. Big deal.
If someone gets an issue sideloading on Android, is Google liable?
No.

 

[boss.king]

Would love it.

So use an iPad. That’s the argument, right? If you want a change to a product you like, you should just buy a totally different one?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Think about this:
- Less than 1% sideload on Android.
- Less than 1% jailbreak on iOS.

One could make a case that folks who love the "walled garden" should be massively in favor of side loading.

If it quells regulator concerns but data has shown us it otherwise has no real bearing on anything, that would be a major win for those that love Apple vetted and distributed Apps. It might be the path to basically "business as usual" for Apple, while opening up a great amount of flexibility for those of us who seek it on iOS.

 

[jz0309]

You really need to take a step back and think about your argument.

Both App Store and Play Store allow some bad apps through. The headline stuff is all regarding Store Apps. As Google and Apple shut down lines of access, shady developers find new ways to get through.

Think about this:
- Less than 1% sideload on Android.
- Less than 1% jailbreak on iOS.

So if you allow side loading on iOS, where does this massive "OMG DOOM AND GLOOM WE ARE ALL GETTING MALWARE" come from?

Nothing posted here supports the OMG D&G scenario Apple and Apple supporters are attempting to use.

Since the vast majority of iOS users are also Facebook users, not educated on security nor anything else technical related - they just click on the latest game and there you have it… if you really think that will not happen, you live in a dream world

 

[nebojsak]

Why are people making so many passionate arguments about mega lockdown on iOS, but not for macOS?

If it's just the inertia of "how it has always been", that is not a good argument and it doesn't hold up (at all).

Do people who want locked down, fully controlled by Apple, iOS software also want macOS to go that route?

I came to the conclusion that it was just because of what Apple says (because Apple is always right). If Apple allowed sideloading from the day one, no one would be arguing about that. MacOS is the obvious example. If you want sideloading, go Windows, or something like that.

 

[Analog Kid]

If we had 5%-10% or more actually sideloading on Android I could see your concern. But it is well under 1% and a lot of that is in countries with limited or constrained internet access. The numbers do not support that claim.

So your argument is that Congress should pass a law requiring the ability to sideload because less than 1% of people want it and they’re mostly outside the US?

 

[Sophisticatednut]

If only Apple hadn’t treated the App Store as a way to extort developers for cash, it wouldn’t have come to this….

If this passes, Apple has no one to blame but themselves. They had numerous chances to compromise and avoid this outcome. Apple may have built the platform, and think that entitles them to collect rent for eternity- but the thing is, the government is allowed to enact rent control.

That is quite true considering apple have discussed this earlier and seems to have forgotten their own strategy

 

[turbineseaplane]

I came to the conclusion that it was just because of what Apple says (because Apple is always right). If Apple allowed sideloading from the day one, no one would be arguing about that. MacOS is the obvious example. If you want sideloading, go Windows, or something like that.

Yeah, it just makes no sense.

We will soon have two Apple platforms both running essentially the same hardware and exceptionally similar software (macOS and iOS)

But one is locked down and strictly controlled by Apple and the other one isn't as much -- and people who argue so feverishly for locked down full Apple control iOS are ok with macOS not being so?

Why?
What's the difference?

 

[nebojsak]

So your argument is that Congress should pass a law requiring the ability to sideload because less than 1% of people want it and they’re mostly outside the US?

I suppose you have some supporting statistics for that.

 

[jz0309]

Overreact much?

They make a lot of money on the hardware itself

And make no mistake, there will still be a HUGE segment of users (overwhelming majority) that will continue to only choose the walled garden.

In fact, if Apple actually has to compete a touch, it's quite likely they shine up the relative value of their own App Store platform offering to the point that it's also preferred by the vast vast vast majority of developers still.

Consumers win (that us!) if Apple is forced to up its game and earn the App Store business.

Consumers loose - YOU are NOT representing consumers, just read all the comments here and stop claiming YOU know it all and the rest of us has no clue

 

[The Phazer]

BS, Gaming consoles have existed decades before the app store, and no regulations ever made for them. Heck, where were these old people when Sony removed Linux capability on the PS3? The fact that this is targeting Apple clearly shows the corrupt and ill intention. Anybody have a list of the old white people proposing this? Their financials should be scrutinized by y'all Americans since they're abusing your own tax dollars.

You mean like the famous Galoob vs Nintendo case that legalised the Game Genie and, more importantly, Codemasters bypassing the signing code on Nintendo platforms to release Micro Machines without paying Nintendo a platform fee? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Galoob_Toys,_Inc._v._Nintendo_of_America,_Inc.

Just because you're ignorant of such regulations doesn't mean they haven't existed for three decades.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Consumers loose - YOU are NOT representing consumers, just read all the comments here and stop claiming YOU know it all and the rest of us has no clue

Thank you for that well reasoned set of points and making such a cogent argument

 

[Analog Kid]

I suppose you have some supporting statistics for that.

@dk001 , @nebojsak would like you to support your claim with statistics…

 

[nebojsak]

@dk001 , @nebojsak would like you to support your claim with statistics…

Want is the keyword.

 

[The Phazer]

Because Xbox doesn't have a secure element with a clone of your credit card on it. Or a model of your face/fingerprint. Or your bank account. Or your health records. Or your daily travel patterns. Or two different camera angles of everything you see. Or a microphone to listen to everything you say. Or direct access to your phone number/calling and texting privileges. Or--soon enough--your actual drivers license.

The data on an Xbox, which has a significantly smaller user base than a mobile phone company (much less its own competitor the PlayStation), is small potatoes compared to the data on a phone.

The Xbox does have a secure element with payment data on it, and some models have had models of your face. They also have a always on microphone for voice recognition, many have a camera attached and they have access to the HERE Map data from many users too.

 

[icanhazmac]

So use an iPad. That’s the argument, right? If you want a change to a product you like, you should just buy a totally different one?

Already have one.

Difference is I would like it if the Mac App store operated the same was as the iOS store but I'm not calling for it to be legislated into happening.

 

[robertjamesm]

Your election vote matters. You made your bed Apple now LAY ON IT!

 

[Analog Kid]

Want is the keyword.

I have no idea what your point is here, but I think your beef is with someone else’s claims…

 

[nebojsak]

Since the vast majority of iOS users are also Facebook users, not educated on security nor anything else technical related - they just click on the latest game and there you have it… if you really think that will not happen, you live in a dream world

That's right. Yet Apple allows them to download freely all Facebook and Google and evil via AppStore.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Your election vote matters. You made your bed Apple now LAY ON IT!

What's your point?

Regulation of tech companies has a lot of bipartisan support

 

[falainber]

The moment some respectable company opens an alernative app store with, say, 8% fee all paid apps move to it and App Store gets left with free apps only.

 

[turbineseaplane]

The moment some respectable company opens an alernative app store with, say, 8% fee all paid apps move to it and App Store gets left with free apps only.

And your point is?

That's called "competition".

It would be good for Apple (and particularly it's developers and users) to have to actually engage in that and win the business for their store.. not just "lock it down and enjoy monopolization of it all"