U.S. Bills Allowing Sideloading Would Cause Consumers to Be Hit With 'Malware, Ransomware, and Scams,' Says Apple

[StuBeck]

My main question regarding this is how is Mac OS secure? This essentially allows sideloading. I also am not sure why they couldn't allow this to be an optional feature like Android does.

I'm not seeing much of a real argument here thats not related to them protecting their existing income source for App Store payments.

 

[bobcomer]

Interesting, do we have free enterprise, or do we not?

For the most part, yes, but there are limits on what a company can do once they get so large that they monopolize a sector of the economy and can dictate anything to it -- that is definitely anti-consumer. There's also various laws about selling dangerous things and such...

Can I side load on my Kindle, how about my smart TV?

Do either kindle or your smart TV have a monopoly in a whole segment in the economy? That's where the problems come. We're talking about iPhone's here, 1 billion of them, kindles 20m-90m, and we have many devices we can read ebooks on, including iPads -- you see, Kindle allows other devices to house kindle data, unlike Apple. There's a LOT of different brands of TV's!

Does amazon have to provide links to other marketplaces where the price may be cheaper? Is a grocery store liable if it sells it's own store brands?

Different situations altogether.

 

[Berserker-UK]

Whatever happened to personal choice (and responsibility)?

By all means warn users of impending doom and destruction (and disabled banking apps, as is already the case if you jailbreak) if they enable sideloading, and ban any app from the store that demands a user enable that feature, but why not leave the ultimate choice to the end user?

Revenue. That's why not. It'd open the door to Epic Games-style 'alternative' stores.

 

[sw1tcher]

It's not just malware we have to worry about. Look no further than Facebook's Onavo VPN client to see how this will be abused.

And how did Facebook's Onavo VPN client get onto Apple's app store?

I thought Apple was vetting all apps and that their control of the app store would protect their users?

 

[appleArticulate]

I think there is a very important distinction that needs to be made, and making important distinctions seems to be counter to common culture these days.

There is a big difference between CAN be infected with malware and scams, and WILL.

Yes, opening up iOS to App installation from anywhere on the internet CAN open consumer's devices to malware and scams....just like every computer that has ever existed.

No, opening up iOS to App installation from anywhere DOES NOT guarantee people will be exposed to malware and scams....just like every computer that has ever existed.

I know plenty of people who can't go a month without a virus or scam affecting them. I also know plenty of people who've never been saddled with any such thing because they use common sense. These people are not installing dozens of apps every day from unknown sources. They are installing 1-2 outside Apps that they need, and then using them regularly.

 

[acader]

Thank you Government. Why don't you also tell us which lock we should use on our doors.

 

[b0fh666]

Too late on iOS/iPadOS. All third browsers are forced to use the gimped Apple WebKit engine vs Chrome Blink, Firefox Gecko, etc. That's why my iPad Pro m1 is just collecting dust and need to pawn it off.

not for long it seems

 

[t76turbo]

I'm kinda getting tired of the talk about changing the way Apple has done business since the start of the iphone. You arent forced to buy an iphone. Feel free to go buy a android phone. And I say that as an investor who owns a massive amount of apple stock.

I am to the point that maybe they should open it up to let people install whatever they want. BUT it does not mean apps are loaded into the app store so there would have to be another way to get them. Also it should void any warranty related to performance, bricked phones, or anything else that could possibly be linked to crappy apps being installed. Pop up multiple messages that require the owner to agree with and maybe enter their icloud password to confirm its the actual owner.

Let some of these people suffer the consequences. And I will continue to use only approved apps and be as safe as possible.

 

[coolfactor]

I'm at a point where I feel Apple should just cave and allow of this "opening up" of the App Store payments and app installation. But they should also be free to say "See! We told you so!" and the consequences need to be on the decision makers, not on Apple.

 

[sw1tcher]

My main question regarding this is how is Mac OS secure?

If you're to believe the heads at Apple, macOS is NOT secure.

Apple cites 'significant' malware on Mac while defending iOS App Store in Fortnite trial

Apple's head of software engineering, Craig Federighi, says malware on Macs has hit "unacceptable" levels.

www.cnet.com

Throwing macOS under the bus to save their app store profits. ?

 

[jz0309]

Government is supposed to act for the people - is this what people want? I know some want side loading but it is the absolute minority. The vast majority have no clue, they just click on whatever FB, IG, TikTok, games present to them - and the door is open.
The real issue I see is that Apple support will come to an end, if you've ver listened to conversations in an Apple store and what "problems" people are "reporting" ... once this were to be allowed, Apple cannot support users like they do today ...
And if that bill would come through, how many signatures on a petition does it need to be revoked?

 

[FlyingDutch]

It is a real concern, but there’s nothing Apple can do to avoid it. Sooner or later Apple has to give up on this matter.

 

[bobcomer]

So is Apple going to remove "sideloading" from the MAC too? So basically only being able to install apps from the App Store.

I certainly hope not. I've probably bought my last Mac already anyway, but that would cement it.

 

[citysnaps]

You mean like how Apple isn't and hasn't been responsible for any consequences of Mac users getting their apps from outside Apple's app store for several decades now?

So nothing will change.

Apple rejected more than 1 million App Store apps in 2020 for a variety of reasons, including those security related.

Good luck if you're not happy purchasing unreviewed apps should they mess with your data, or have issues with payments

 

[sw1tcher]

Thank you Government. Why don't you also tell us which lock we should use on our doors.

You're looking at this the wrong way.

Right now the home builder is telling you that you can only buy a lock from them.

Meanwhile, the government wants to give you the option of getting a door lock from someone other than the home builder.

 

[bobcomer]

and to this day YOU still don't get it - the developer has to enable it ... go do some fact checking for a change

Incorrect. They had to opt out of it, the default was to allow it.

 

[t76turbo]

Here's a thought...maybe the American Choice Online Act should let, I dunno, CONSUMERS choose who they want to work with.

Already does. Buy an android. No one is forcing you to buy apple.

 

[bobcomer]

You're looking at this the wrong way.

Right now the home builder is telling you that you can only buy a lock from them.

Meanwhile, the government wants to give you the option of getting a door lock from someone other than the home builder.

That's a perfect analogy!

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Does anyone really think that the US Congress is capable of passing anything? If they do manage to pass anything (unlikely) Apple will have only themselves to blame. If they only want control over the App Store for security and safety, they need to stop treating it as a rent extractor.

 

[jman240]

They block some very useful / fun apps with app store policies too

1. Game streaming ala stadia, xcloud
2. Virtual machines - eg running mac os on ipad would be possible here.

I'm sure there's more but those two stand out to me. Instead of forcing them to allow sideloading, which seems like everyone has differing opinions on, I'd rather they were forced to clarify and possibly remove the app store restrictions that block those two types of apps. I'm in favor of sideloading so we could do more with our devices but I understand the hesitancy against it.

 

[LeadingHeat]

To this day you still cant run IOS apps on the Mac desktop in Monterey like APPLE promised Can you??

You can run Android Apps in Windows 11.

Uhh you can. Just search for an app in the Mac App Store, and click the “iPhone and iPad” filter. Granted, there are developers out there who actively block their app from working on the Mac (monetary reasons I’m sure) but still. The functionality is there.

 

[Minerbot360]

Should this ultimately go from discussions to a signed law, that choice will still fall to the owner of the device, no?

Therefore, those of us who are against it can simply stick to the Apple "seal of approval" on their own App Store and apps and say no to other options.

The main problem with this would be that some developers would make their app only available through side loading, thus forcing some users who are dependent on those apps to enable side loading on their devices.

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple rejected more than 1 million App Store apps in 2020 for a variety of reasons, including those security related.

Good luck.

What does this have to do with your statement that if this legislation passes "Apple should not be responsible for any adverse consequences (bricked phones, stolen data, ransomware, etc) to customers should they choose to side load apps."?

People are and have been sideloading apps on their Mac for decades now and Apple hasn't been responsible for anything.

Is your argument that since Apple controls the iOS apps that Apple should be responsible when bad things happen? If so, then Apple owes this person a lot of bitcoin.

Man blames Apple for bitcoin theft by fake app in App Store | AppleInsider

Apple has been blamed for enabling a scam app to steal bitcoin worth $600,000 from a man, by listing the fake app that pretended to be by another company in the App Store.

appleinsider.com

 

[t76turbo]

For the most part, yes, but there are limits on what a company can do once they get so large that they monopolize a sector of the economy and can dictate anything to it -- that is definitely anti-consumer. There's also various laws about selling dangerous things and such...

Do either kindle or your smart TV have a monopoly in a whole segment in the economy? That's where the problems come. We're talking about iPhone's here, 1 billion of them, kindles 20m-90m, and we have many devices we can read ebooks on, including iPads -- you see, Kindle allows other devices to house kindle data, unlike Apple. There's a LOT of different brands of TV's!


Different situations altogether.

Apple doesnt have a monopoly. Might want to read the dictionary to get some definition of words you are using. You CAN BUY AN ANDROID!!!! No one is forcing you to buy an Apple product. If apple was the only company in the world making cell phones then you would have a point. If apple would only allow their in house developed apps on the app store, you would have a point.

But those are not the case so your argument doesnt hold water.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Apple claims it would also be restricted from providing new privacy and security protections under wording that maintains such features must be "necessary" and "narrowly tailored," which the company says is a "nearly insurmountable test" that could prevent customers from having access to a "smart mobile device that provides them with the highest-level of security and privacy protection."

Quite possibly the longest sentence I’ve read in a while. Lol.

On a serious note, does this mean that apple couldn’t come back with a compromise saying that “okay fine you can side load, but any app made for side loading also has to be made available in the App Store”? Personally I am worried that once side loading is a thing, then the big devs will pull their apps from the App Store and only make it available on their own store (or hosted individually). Meaning that the App Store would become as barren as the Mac App Store.