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

[ian87w]

It's all about money, I guess...

It's about protecting the value of the brand. Companies with big brands like Apple will make ensure control to protect their brand. Apple has invested a ton of money and time to build the Apple brand into what it is today. Apple will try to prevent anything that can potentially harm the brand, no matter how small.

Go ask Ferrari users, and the ToS they have to abide to for owning a Ferrari. Look at Disney and how careful they are with their partnership, content, and contracts with artists.

Even Android OEMs are starting to think the same, by making their devices harder to root with locked bootloaders.

 

[ian87w]

This would only put Apple users on par with Android - that they could have a choice.

Nobody is FORCED to use anything else but the App Store. If you want safety, stick with App Store.

Apple could easily allow the same thing like they do on the Mac, signed developers.

They already have a choice prior to this.
Those who wanted a more open platform, there's Android. Those who wanted a walled garden, there's iOS. A choice is between 2 different things.

Making iOS into just like Android is not a choice. "On par" already means there's no choice, as now both platforms are just the same.

Choice != conformity.

 

[_Spinn_]

If I wanted Android I would have bought an Android phone. I wanted iOS so I bought an iPhone. Stop trying to turn iOS into Android on me.

 

[inkswamp]

I resent how Apple always presents this as a binary argument. Either it's locked down and safe or opened up and dangerous.

It doesn't have to be wide open by default. Leave it as-is by default and give users the ability to dig down into the system settings and enable side-loading. They can even put up a big scary warning that enabling this feature opens their phone to all kinds of nefarious evils and oozing, dripping nastiness. Most people would be just as happy leaving it off and having a safe phone. For those few who want to fiddle with it, turn it on. This is literally the model used on the Mac. You can restrict it to only trusted sources or tell the OS to go for it. So far, the entire Mac OS landscape hasn't burned to the ground, and it's unlikely everyone is downloading and running untrusted apps.

I don't understand why it always has to be scare tactics and oversimplified arguments when it comes to side-loading apps.

 

[JosephAW]

Can’t even side load; using Configurator; 64 bit Apple apps since iOS 14.5 that I’ve download on to my Mac unless it’s still in their store now. smh

 

[BigSmurf]

I would not be comfortable downloading apps from other app stores.

 

[Madmic23]

Personally, I think you misunderstood the idea of choice. For you, choice is, for some reason, the same as conformity. Meaning that if all platforms conforms to what Android is like, that's for some reason is "choice."

Choice means you have a choice of something different, not more of the same. Right now, consumers have choice for a smartphone platform. They can pick an open platform like Android, or they can pick a walled garden choice like iOS. Choice. Two different things.

Making iOS into Android is removing choice.

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree and think you may be the one misunderstanding what choice is here. Having only one option for your apps and payment methods isn’t a choice. If Apple did open up, you would have the choice to not support apps that make you download something outside of the App Store. That’s your choice to make, and voting with your wallet. On the Mac, you have the choice to purchase from the Mac App Store, or directly from a developers website if they make their app available in both. That’s a choice.
Opening up the method to get apps on an iPhone doesn’t turn iOS into Android. You still have the exclusive Apple features like iMessage, Apple Pay, Apple Wallet, Siri, iCloud Photos, integration with other Apple devices, better security, privacy, sandboxing, etc. These features and more are what make people stick with Apple, not the lack of choice in app stores and in app payment mechanisms.
I understand many people on here love Apple, and for good reason. They make great products and are the hardware leader. But that doesn’t mean that their way is the correct way at all times, and I do believe that the lack of App Store choice and in-app payment methods will have to change in the future. I also don’t believe it will lead to a massive influx of malware. If the code of iOS is as secure as Apple claims, and apps have to ask for permission to access your camera, mic, location services, contacts, etc, you will know if an app is accessing something it shouldn’t. If iOS is only secure because of a locked down App Store, we probably have a bigger issue to worry about.

 

[Grizzlybear123]

Of course google allows sideloading and runs play protect to scan all apps on your phone to detect harmful apps and disable them.
Apple wants to control the ecosystem and collect all the money it can from developers in the process fortnight didn't want to pay Google the cut of the fees and had consumers sideload the app until Google gave in and gave them the deal they wanted.

 

[JarikD]

I don’t want to be rude or anything, but I truly have a hard time understanding, why is the forbidden side loading such a problem for some people. I work in IT, and let me tell you - most of the people are dumb. If they can get some Calendar malware into their iPhone, they would make their iPhones full of nasty stuff if the side loading was allowed. Most of users are after years of experience with Apple ecosystem used to the argument “I use Mac and iPhone so I can’t get a virus”… and that’s how they treat it. It would be a disaster in my opinion if side loading was allowed all of sudden. Most of you will not understand this, since you’re reading these tech related forums already. But most people don’t. And for those who think, people “want choice”. Yes they do. That’s why there are Androids, HarmonyOS, Windows, Linux etc. If you want an exact copy of Android, go and buy Android phone and install some app that makes it look like iOS. There should be diversity in the industry, when it comes to these things. That’s why there are green apples ?, red ? and others between.

 

[ian87w]

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree and think you may be the one misunderstanding what choice is here. Having only one option for your apps and payment methods isn’t a choice. If Apple did open up, you would have the choice to not support apps that make you download something outside of the App Store. That’s your choice to make, and voting with your wallet. On the Mac, you have the choice to purchase from the Mac App Store, or directly from a developers website if they make their app available in both. That’s a choice.
Opening up the method to get apps on an iPhone doesn’t turn iOS into Android. You still have the exclusive Apple features like iMessage, Apple Pay, Apple Wallet, Siri, iCloud Photos, integration with other Apple devices, better security, privacy, sandboxing, etc. These features and more are what make people stick with Apple, not the lack of choice in app stores and in app payment mechanisms.
I understand many people on here love Apple, and for good reason. They make great products and are the hardware leader. But that doesn’t mean that their way is the correct way at all times, and I do believe that the lack of App Store choice and in-app payment methods will have to change in the future. I also don’t believe it will lead to a massive influx of malware. If the code of iOS is as secure as Apple claims, and apps have to ask for permission to access your camera, mic, location services, contacts, etc, you will know if an app is accessing something it shouldn’t. If iOS is only secure because of a locked down App Store, we probably have a bigger issue to worry about.

I disagree. The choice is made before you buy the phone. The choice is between two platforms, open Android or walled garden iOS. If you pick iOS, you already decided on walled garden experience. If you had wanted open platform, there's no reason for you to pick iOS to begin with.

You don't come into McDonalds and then expect to be have a choice between Big Mac and BK Whooper. The fact that you decided to go to McDonalds means you already choose that you will have whatever McD offers. You don't just go inside McD and demand Burger King menu. If you force McDonalds to offer Burger King menus, then what's the difference between McD and BK? They are no longer choices, they're the same thing.

Again, you misunderstood conformity as choice. Having things that are more of the same is not choice.

 

[ian87w]

I don’t want to be rude or anything, but I truly have a hard time understanding, why is the forbidden side loading such a problem for some people. I work in IT, and let me tell you - most of the people are dumb. If they can get some Calendar malware into their iPhone, they would make their iPhones full of nasty stuff if the side loading was allowed. Most of users are after years of experience with Apple ecosystem used to the argument “I use Mac and iPhone so I can’t get a virus”… and that’s how they treat it. It would be a disaster in my opinion if side loading was allowed all of sudden. Most of you will not understand this, since you’re reading these tech related forums already. But most people don’t. And for those who think, people “want choice”. Yes they do. That’s why there are Androids, HarmonyOS, Windows, Linux etc. If you want an exact copy of Android, go and buy Android phone and install some app that makes it look like iOS. There should be diversity in the industry, when it comes to these things. That’s why there are green apples ?, red ? and others between.

Agree. And when there's something wrong on those people's iPhones, they will still blame Apple and associate the bad experience with the Apple brand. This is the thing that Apple (since Steve Jobs) wants to avoid. They want to control the customer experience and protect their brand.

 

[svish]

Don't want security and privacy to be compromised.

 

[Wildkraut]

Report: macOS malware boomed in 2020, but still a fraction of Windows threats - 9to5Mac

A study looking at new malware found in the wild during 2020 says that threats developed for macOS saw a...

9to5mac.com

macOS is not as large as Windows. I guarantee you that if macOS and Windows flipped, macOS would be a malware riddled mess like Windows is.

As i said earlier, i can imagine that Apple leaks macOS security holes to bad guys. They for sure delay the macOS patches in a way the malware has enough time to spread, the delay and ignorance of vulnerabilities has been already proven by multiple articles. And all just to put iOS in a better light. They walk over dead bodies if necessary.

 

[CASMAS]

Yes you can. In the app store you search as you normally would, at the top there is a toggle for iPhone/iPad apps. When I am on my iMac, I pretty much have no reason to pick up my phone. Amazing.

The problem is most of them are NOT even optimized for macOS and most popular apps aren't even available. What's the point?

 

[smoothride]

I can confirm this. My Macbook Air is full of viruses.

I don't know if this is a sarcasm or the truth. but my MacBook Pro is just fine. ?

 

[saudor]

Meh. Even apps on the App Store suck. Everyone wants a subscription these days too. Last app purchase was apparently April 5 2016. Sheesh.

with 3rd party app/payment, i reckon people would be less comfortable so they’ll come crawling back anyways

 

[iMobile]

I go that far and say: Apple is sooo evil and would even try (or maybe already did?!) to infect their own macOS devices by hiring "bad guys" and leaking out security holes to them. Just to put their cash cow (iOS Devices) into a better light than macOS devices.

Don’t give them ideas mate ?

 

[laptech]

Apple say sideloading will put users at risk of malware, ransomware and scams but shouldn't that be up to the user to decide. If i purchase an iphone I am the one that gets to decide how to use it and what to do with it. The problem is with Apple is that they want to control what user do with their iphone. Yes Apple are happy to take your money when you purchase an iphone but after that it seems Apple want to control what you do with it, Apple decides how you use it and what you do with it, not you.

 

[H2SO4]

Solution: Require all side loading app developers to be bonded and put in the legislation specific rules on privacy and security. Violate said rules, then the government collects penalties and distributes to consumers, and developers go to jail. simple and done!

Yep. Same with Apple. If they get caught breaking rules, (even ones implemented by themselves), Tim Cook, Phil Shill et al go to jail right?

 

[hanske68]

IMO: if Apple were to treat developers better in the fist place, sideloading wouldn't even be an issue.

 

[Michael Scrip]

IMO: if Apple were to treat developers better in the fist place, sideloading wouldn't even be an issue.

It makes me wonder if Apple will lower their commission rates to 10% or 12% before governments force them to allow sideloading or alternative stores.

Isn't that what developers wanted anyway? Lower rates?

Devs would love to make more money... but they don't necessarily want the hassle of uploading and updating their apps across two or three different stores or websites and have to deal with collecting income from Stripe, PayPal, and others. And have to deal with taxes from multiple stores and payment processors.

I bet a lot of developers would just stick with Apple if the rates were simply better. Small developers, that is.

The giant billion-dollar developers like Epic or Spotify still wouldn't be happy because they deal in such volume thus they'd still be paying millions in commission fees.

So I dunno... would lowering the rates solve most of the problems? Or would alternate app stores and sideloading still be required?

 

[AppliedMicro]

You don't come into McDonalds and then expect to be have a choice between Big Mac and BK Whooper. The fact that you decided to go to McDonalds means you already choose that you will have whatever McD offers. You don't just go inside McD and demand Burger King menu. If you force McDonalds to offer Burger King menus, then what's the difference between McD and BK? They are no longer choices, they're the same thing.

Then again, I can easily switch from McDonald‘s to Burger King or vice versa. And everyone can easily make their own burgers, sell them and offer competition. It‘s not like the recipe for burgers were encumbered in a mine field of patents.

It makes me wonder if Apple will lower their commission rates to 10% or 12% before governments force them to allow sideloading or alternative stores.

15% would probably make it a non-issue to most developers.
They‘re already doing it for subscriptions and have around to do it for small developers.

 

[Denzo]

I've been bored with my iPhone 13 PM so I bought a Flip 3. It's pretty awesome and I have had no issues. Apple spin is just laughable.

 

[threesixty360]

iOS can already side load. Opening up iOS to third party app stores will not change the fact that all apps will be sandboxed and the platform will remain immune to most PC-style malware. It won’t be immune to scam apps, but the official App Store already has plenty of those. Sideloading != jailbreaking.

Sideloading means you cannot verify what api's are being accessed. iOS has lots of hidden api's that only Apple can use. Some of these could allow dev's to circumvent the sandbox. There is no way of policing how the system will be able to be used. On top of that malware won't always be contained by sandboxes as there a numerous ways to get around that.

Further more, applications will be signed by the third party App Store, so the whole iOS install base is at the mercy of what that App Store decides to do.

I have in the past bricked an iPad (the first one) with jail broken software so it doesnt come without risk.

 

[ian87w]

Then again, I can easily switch from McDonald‘s to Burger King or vice versa. And everyone can easily make their own burgers, sell them and offer competition. It‘s not like the recipe for burgers were encumbered in a mine field of patents.

How do you switch from McD to Burger King? By going out of McD and go to BK. The same here, you can have your choice, by not buying an iPhone and get an Android instead. Choice, simple.

And yes you can make your own phone if you want to. How do you think small companies like Fairphone make theirs? And yes you can make your own burgers. You won't be able to sell as much as McD, but you can sell them, just like Fairphone.

But you don't go to McDonalds and demand them to sell BK burgers. Right?