In his speech at the ongoing Web Summit in Lisbon, Craig Federighi criticized legislation that could force Apple to allow sideloading of apps on the iPhone. Federighi, Apple’s vice president with responsibility for software, was in Portugal to speak not only to the many present, but also to EU legislators. He often referred to European digital politics to praise it, but towards the new rules imposed by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) he was rather critical. Announced in December 2020, they could initiate major changes for Apple’s App Store. Among these, the DMA application would force Cupertino to allow the sideloading of applications and therefore to allow alternatives to the App Store, which at the moment is the only way to install new software on iPhone and iPad, as well as being an important source. of earnings for the company.
Privacy according to Craig Federighi: “For Apple it is freedom of choice”
by Bruno Ruffilli
Federighi used a metaphor: buying an iPhone is like buying a “big house with an excellent security system”, only to end up with a new law that forces us to weaken the security system. “In the noble aim of optimizing parcel delivery, the city requires everyone to build a side door that is always open on the ground floor (…). Once built, anyone can walk through it. The safe house we chose now has a very serious flaw in its security system and the thieves are really good at exploiting it. Sideloading is that open door. Requesting it on the iPhone would give cybercriminals an easy entry point into the device ”.
Federighi called sideloading “the cybercriminal’s best ally” and said DMA comes at a time when “there have never been so many cybercriminals” looking forward to accessing information on our smartphones. It also showed a slide according to which a cybersecurity agency would detect over 5 million attacks per month on other software platforms. And, he explained, DMA would open a “Pandora’s box of uncontrolled software full of malware and deprive everyone of the ability to have a secure iPhone.”
With the intention of allowing users to choose, for Federighi, in fact, “consumers would be deprived of the choice of a safer platform”. And that’s just when an iPhone (but actually every smartphone) is a mine of personal and confidential information. Warnings or precautions on the dangers of sideloading would be worth little: for Federighi, users will inevitably be “forced or deceived” to do so, even if they do not want to. We think of counterfeit sites to appear legitimate, apps that hide spyware or viruses, for example. ” It would be better for everyone if we let people choose between the iPhone, with its approach that favors security and privacy, and other platforms, which could decide to allow sideloading ”, concluded Federighi.
Attack on the walled garden: why Apple doesn’t want alternative app stores on the iPhone
by Andrea Nepori
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