It's not like an everyday user tires to sidoade apps. It's 0.1% of the population.

But this is a tad ridiculous. Sideloading on Android has always been a thing, the average user has no idea what it is or how to do it.

Yes, it's safer within the app store. No, granny won't accidentally install something, you need to allow installs from the source, accept permissions, clear the "are you sure" security screen, then finally choose between install and cancel, before getting one last security screen, "app was downloaded from the internet".

The concept of security is correct, your anecdote is a false example of it.

Just makes me think of my coworker whose samsung phone had so much random crap on it that every other tap on the screen would trigger a 30 second ad, sometimes followed by a second or third ad. Took forever just to get to the Settings app. Ended up having to boot into safe mode and removing a good chunk of apps for him.

Legit question, is side loading not already offered in some way? I thought sideloading is when you can download an app straight off a web browser. I’ve done that before multiple times for work apps.

Or is it specific to purchases for paid apps?

Just dont be srupid and you will be fine. And sideloading actually requires turning it on for each app in the settings so you cant do it by accident

No matter how you do it, opening another channel of app installation will always make a device „less secure“. It’s in the very nature. Users have to be more careful with sideloaded apps and the OS has to tighten security.

I‘m not worried though, mostly because of one thing: Even on Android I hardly know anybody who actually sideloaded apps. And I guess iOS will do more than its fair share of warning users not to do it.

I mostly look forward to it for Fortnite and some emulators.

This is my concern too. We already have quite sophisticated scams guiding people to install TeamViewer, AnyDesk, etc on PC’s; you can bet they’ll adapt their techniques to work on iPhones too, guiding grandpa through side loading malicious software.

Hopefully iOS will make a distinction between side loaded and AppStore loaded apps and adjust permissions accordingly (via a VM, container, or some other mechanism).

Obviously not perfect, but security is a never ending game of cat and mouse.

If your gradma knows how to sideload apps you have bigger security concerns than that.