For the second time in the last few months, Apple is against sideloading apps on iPhone. But, why does Apple not want to allow applications other than Apple App Store? Read and know for yourself.
What is sideloading of apps?
Sideloading apps refers to installing applications that are not available in the App Store or Google Play Store. This allows you to download and use apps banned on your smartphone. While Google allows sideloading, Apple is strictly against it due to the security net inside iOS. To sideload apps on your Android device, you just need to change permissions and allow ‘installation from unknown souces’. However, the only way to download external apps on your iPhone is to jailbreak them.
While most people don’t need to sideload, this is a useful way to use apps that are not available in your country. However, you can’t always trust the source since it can be loaded with malware. According to research by Kaspersky Lab, Android phones have 15 to 47 times more malware infections than iPhones. According to Apple, this is due to side loading and poor security of Android devices.
Why is Apple against sideloading of apps?
Despite pressure from the European Union, Apple is against sideloading apps on iPhone and other Apple devices. The tech giant claims that this can cripple the “privacy and security protections” in place. “If Apple were forced to support sideloading, more harmful apps would reach users because it would be easier for cybercriminals to target them – even if sideloading were limited to third-party app stores only,” stated Apple.
“Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps: A threat analysis of sideloading,” stated the research article. According to Apple, sideloading increases malware attack risks. “If Apple were forced to support sideloading via direct downloads and through third-party app stores, iPhone users would have to constantly be on the lookout for scams, never sure whom or what to trust, and, as a result, users would download fewer apps from fewer developers,” Apple’s report says.