Apple more interested in protecting its fiefdom than it is in iPhone security

Apple wants you to know you care as it argues that sideloading apps on iPhone would be bad. In the past few weeks, the company has been running a public relations flash highlighting the security threats that sideloading poses to iPhone security. The company is not wrong. Sideloading is a risk.

But it’s not user safety that Apple is really concerned about here. While iPhone security is certainly important, the revenue from the App Store is far more important to Apple. Allowing iPhone users to sideload apps could bypass the app store’s business model of reducing app fees by 30%. This is the real problem that makes Apple’s “think of the kids” screams sound wrong.

What is sideloading?

Sideloading is the ability to install an application on a device independently of an app store. Sideloading is not allowed on the iPhone. The only way to get an app on an iPhone is through Apple’s official App Store. You would have to jailbreak the iPhone to install third-party apps from outside the app store.

Google does things differently. Obviously, Google prefers people to download their apps directly from the Google Play Store, but there are easy ways to get around this. Users just have to manually give their phone permission to install from sources other than the Play Store and voila, sideloading becomes a reality. Still, Google’s advanced protection program blocks the majority of sideloaded apps.

Apple yells out iPhone security!

According to Apple, it’s all about iPhone security through and through. Sideloading apps exposes iPhone owners to all sorts of dire dangers, if we are to believe Apple’s rhetoric.

“Because of the size of the iPhone user base and the sensitive data stored on their phones – photos, location data, health and financial information – sideloading would trigger a flurry of new investments in attacks on the platform,” Apple said in a screed, which was published today on its website. “Malicious actors would take the opportunity by devoting more resources to developing sophisticated attacks against iOS users, expanding the range of weapons-grade exploits and attacks that all users must be protected from. This increased risk of malware attacks puts all users at risk, including those who only download apps from the App Store. “

Apple also notes that Android devices are 15 times more likely to be infected by malware by comparison – all due to sideloading.

The PR campaign is not limited to long posts on the website. Apple has reached out directly to House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi, reported The New York Timesto warn of certain regulations in the tech industry.

“Services”

Apple divides its quarterly net sales into two broad groups: products and services. The “Products” category includes physical goods such as iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and other hardware. In the most recent quarter, Apple had net sales of $ 72.7 billion. The Services category includes Apple’s software offerings, including iCloud Storage, iTunes Music, App Store, and other app-related services. In the most recent quarter, Apple had net sales of approximately $ 16.9 billion.

Part of that $ 16.9 million comes from App Store fees that Apple charges developers. For many apps that are paid or offer subscription services, Apple takes a 30% cut. That said, if you download Spotify from the App Store and subscribe to Spotify Premium through the app, Apple will get $ 3 out of the $ 10 that Spotify charges.

Some companies feel the cut is too much. One of them is Epic Games, maker of the popular Fortnite game that Apple has taken to court over charges. In fact, we can blame the Apple Epic Process for the drama we are seeing now. Apple has been on the defense since the trial that has not yet passed a judgment. In August 2020, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store after Epic created its own payment system within the game, thereby circumventing Apple’s revenue model.

Android users see sideloading as a bonus

In a recent poll, around 48.5% of respondents said Android authority they consider sideloading an indispensable function. Some commenters indicated that they would not explicitly consider iOS because of the ban on sideloading.

Another 29.7% said sideloading was a nice feature but not a necessary one, while 21.8% said they weren’t interested in sideloading one way or the other.

Apple is right to be concerned

The Fortnite case could have a huge impact on Apple’s bottom line. Fortnite argued that Apple is acting as a monopoly in controlling the App Store and making apps available to iPhones and iPads. Others, including Facebook and Spotify, have expressed support for Epic, reported Reuters last year.

While we don’t know what percentage of that $ 16.9 billion is made up of App Store revenue, the number cannot be considered insignificant. Apple will lose a lot, not just in terms of cash, but control of its ecosystem. What we see now are signs that Apple is feeling cornered. It prepares its claws for a fight. A fight that could have dire consequences, not just for Apple, but for the entire mobile landscape.