Apple CEO: ‘We don’t want to put users in danger’

Apple CEO said that if the iPhone supports 3rd party app stores, users can often face malware and cybercriminals.
In a court appearance on May 21, Tim Cook explained why the App Store is the only app store on the iPhone.

According to this leader, he never intended to experiment with opening 3rd-party app stores for its devices, because that would push users closer to the risk of malware exposure. Tim Cook appeared in court on May 21. Photo: Yahoo Finance. The view of Apple CEO received approval from Professor Justin Cappos, working at Tandon School of Engineering , belonging to New York University . “Clearly it is not possible for users to arbitrarily install software from their own application store,” Professor Justin Cappos stated on the website. Yahoo Finance . “Even if it’s a familiar app, there’s still the potential for increased malware and phishing on the iPhone.” Of course, Apple’s blocking of 3rd party app stores on iPhones is not simply about protecting consumers. The company also collects a 30% fee on transactions made through the App Store. In other words, while Apple is right when it comes to consumer protection, the dominance of the App Store still gets it in trouble with antitrust regulation. Tim Cook’s stance In an antitrust lawsuit being considered by the court, Epic claims Apple abused the position of the App Store, forcing developers to use a payment system it managed and paying a 30% fee. From summer 2020, Epic kicks things off with a Fortnite update, adding the option to pay for in-game currency through its own channel at a cheaper price than the App Store. Apple responded by removing Fortnite from the app store and locking down Epic’s developer account. The game company quickly filed a lawsuit against Apple for monopoly behavior, demanding a reduction in transaction fees through the App Store or allowing 3rd party app stores to operate on the iPhone. CEO Epic appeared in court on May 20. Photo: Yahoo Finance. The trial took place in May with many fierce arguments, and Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is expected to announce the ruling next week. Here, Epic argues that if a 3rd-party app store appeared on the iPhone, developers could reduce the price of the app because it wouldn’t cost Apple 30% of the fee. Present in court, Tim Cook defended its stance on not allowing external app stores to appear on the iPhone. By comparing the amount of malware on iOS with platforms that allow the installation of 3rd party applications – Cook asserts that the iPhone accounts for only 1-2% of malware infections, while this rate on Android, Windows up to 30-40%. “If you look at the malware on iOS compared to Android and Windows, it’s really insignificant.” The numbers are on Apple’s side Cook’s view is reinforced by Report on smart device threats in 2020 published by Nokia. Accordingly, 26.64% of malware infections come from Android devices. This number is down from 47.15% in 2019. Nokia believes that security on Android has improved compared to before, in addition, hackers are gradually shifting attacks to IoT devices. Meanwhile, 38.92% of all malware infections originate from Windows PCs. The corresponding rate on Apple’s iPhone is only 1.72%. The rest belongs to other IoT devices. The rate of malware infection on iPhone is much lower than on other platforms. Photo: Yahoo Finance. Why the difference between the 3 operating systems? Professor Cappos says there are several factors at play, including iOS being updated more frequently than Android and Windows. Operating system updates will patch bugs that hackers can exploit with malware, making devices harder to jailbreak. In addition, Android and Windows are two of the most used platforms in the world, which makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Both the App Store and Play Store have automated malware detection processes, but Google has trouble allowing users to access 3rd-party app stores. Most security experts recommend not downloading it. download applications from these places due to the risk of malicious code insertion. Meanwhile, Windows allows users to install apps through the Windows Store or download them from anywhere on the web. Can’t “Security Flag” protect Apple? Apple does not disclose revenue from the App Store, instead, it bundles it with Services. This business, which includes Apple TV+, Apple Music+, and iCloud, will bring in $53.7 billion in 2020, or 20 percent of Apple’s $274 billion in total revenue. That proves the App Store is generating a lot of money for the company. With huge profits and strict controls on the app store, Apple may face accusations of unfair competition. According to Professor Shubha Ghosh of Syracuse University of Law , Apple needs to demonstrate that this business is up to the level of security it offers. Sometimes in the eyes of Judge Gonzalez Rogers, the 30% commission per transaction and the security of the platform don’t go together. Even security may not be the judge’s concern. “Antitrust courts don’t care so much about safety – they care about competition,” says Professor Sam Weinstein of Cardozo Law School explain. Why does Apple want to repair the iPhone itself? Apple wants to repair iPhones themselves instead of empowering 3rd parties or users.