Tim Cook on Wednesday participated in a remote interview as part of the Viva Tech conference, Europe’s “biggest startup and tech event.” During the 30-minute “fireside chat,” Cook said that side-loading apps would “destroy the security” of the iPhone and discussed Apple’s commitment to privacy, the future of AR, COVID-19, and more.
Cook reiterated today that he believes GDPR has laid crucial groundwork for privacy regulation to protect users. “GDPR was a good thing for Europe, and it should be standard around the world,” Cook said in the chat. “We support going further with GPDR as there is still work to do in the privacy world.”
Cook also said during the interview that the proposed Digital Markets Act in Europe would not be “in the best interest of the user.” This legislation, which was first unveiled last December, could lead to major changes for the App Store and pre-installed first-party applications on the iPhone. According to Cook, this legislation could lead to changes that seriously “destroy the security of the iPhone.”
The DMA in Europe would force Apple to allow side-loading on the iPhone, which is something Cook strongly pushes back against. If Apple had to allow side-loading, Cook explained, then features like App Store nutrition labels and App Tracking Transparency “would not exist anymore.”
MacDailyNews Take: Cook’s quote regarding side-loading, in full:
I would say [side-loading] would damage both privacy and security. I mean, you look at malware as an example, and Android has 47x more malware than iOS. Why is that? It’s because we’ve designed iOS in such a way that there’s one App Store and all of the apps are reviewed prior to going on the store. That keeps a lot of this malware stuff out of our ecosystem. Customers have told us very continuously how much they value that. And so we’re going to be standing up for the user in the discussions and we’ll see where it goes. I’m optimistic, I think most people looking at security know that security is a major risk.
The full interview:
Yup, that’s why Apple’s a cut above the rest.
No, it isn’t. Apple’s Mac based on a secure UNIX kernel made it a cut above the rest. Macs are as secure as any iOS device, regardless of the overhyped iOS store.
If Apple’s storefront actually provides better value than an independent developer’s, then let Apple prove it in a competitive market as they have done on the Mac.
AC is absolutely correct on this. Tim is just making up excuses for his highly profitable chokehold on developers.
I’d be fine with the App Store burning to the ground before sidelining was an option.
Why do you care? You can get it just for the Apple Store.
Or is this a cult thing?
With you, I think it’s a stewpiditea thing. As in your single brain cell has trouble coping with anything that isn’t pure and unakiderated Apple HAAAAAATE. You really are sickkkkk in the head.
Don’t feel bad, I hate all tyrants. This would include self serving censors of other’s property.
Corporate misdirection, obfuscation, and lies. Gotta love it.
Yes, applecynsik is very skilled at misdirection, obfuscation, braindeadation and outright lies.
Feel free to protect the security of your iPhone as you see fit. Leave mine alone Timmy. Just as jail breaking was judged legal, the same arguments apply to sideloading.
How do we side load an Android boot disk into your rectoid?
Side load all you want, loser.
Okay…. Can we dummy?
You can be a dummy all you want. It’s what you do all the time anyway, so why ask? It’s your nature. And yes, jailbreak your iPhone and side load all the apps developers have written that are sideloadable.
Has “sideloading” applications on Macs destroyed their security Timmy? If it were up to Apple you’d only be allowed to buy their products and ALL software through their company store, control freaks.
Timmy knows Nick’s name is the world of cyber security is ick.
Despite the fact they’ve added it back, when Apple dropped the Parler app for political reasons they hurt their argument and damaged their reputation for being at least somewhat neutral on things business-wise.
You can never be neutral when you’re the sole arbiter of which apps get distributed. The only opinion that matters is yours.