![]() ![]() There are other issues with the iOS security model that may need to be changed in order to accommodate third-party applications that are sideloaded or installed outside the App Store. The issue of addressing undocumented APIs was central to settling Microsoft's litigation with the US Government in the early and mid-2000s. But it's also possible that any antitrust settlement may also require Apple to document all of their APIs so that there's no "secret sauce" in iOS that is kept away from third-party developers. However, If it wished to reserve APIs for its use in the future, it would need to move those APIs into its libraries away from the common user space where all apps run, much in the same way Google Mobile Services is built. The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad you can buy Because iOS is a closed ecosystem entirely controlled by Apple, the company has never had to worry about fully documenting everything that it does. Apple likely has private, undocumented APIs that it uses for its purposes, wholly integrated into every aspect of the OS. Part of any accommodation for third-party apps would almost certainly be to put Apple's built-in apps on a level playing field in API usage. Some Android device vendors, such as Huawei and Amazon, do not use Google Mobile Services at all and use AOSP as the basis of their products only. It has done this to separate the open source project that is AOSP from commercially licensed versions of the mobile operating system. Google has managed to compartmentalize all of its proprietary functions into Google Mobile Services (GMS), including all the libraries and apps needed to provide its customer experience on Android. It is unknown how modular an operating system iOS truly is because, unlike Android, it is not open source. Potential for major architectural changes to iOS But it isn't the only new component and major modification that the mobile operating system would need for Apple to ensure a safe experience for its customers. Gatekeeper would almost certainly have to be ported to iOS in order to allow for secure application installs. The "Exodus" spyware, which managed to be installed directly from Google Play on Android devices, has been distributed using the Developer Enterprise toolsets on iOS devices. While the Developer Enterprise program has dramatically helped reduce malicious software installed on iOS systems, it is not infallible. iOS does not currently have this feature. Gatekeeper verifies the signature of downloaded applications to ensure they are notarized before allowing them to execute, thus reducing the likelihood of inadvertently installing and running malware. As with iOS, Mac also has an app store, but Apple does not require that Mac systems exclusively install applications from it.Ĭurrent versions of macOS and OS 11 "Big Sur" use a subsystem called " Gatekeeper," a security feature used to enforce code-signing via digital certificates. This program enables companies to create and deploy custom applications on iOS, WatchOS, and TVOS devices, as well as code-sign Mac apps, plug-ins, and installers with a Developer ID certificate for distribution to employee Mac computers. It could well require a complete redesign to accommodate any necessary changes as part of any legal settlement or consent decree beyond penalties Apple would need to pay.Īpple has allowed side-loading, but only for enterprises using the Developer Enterprise Program. If a court orders that Apple must allow for third party application installs, it would have significant implications for the ongoing development of the mobile operating system. So while increased fines against Google by the EU and the US might be financially painful to Google, the company would not need to make significant architectural changes to Android other than possibly including support for third-party payment processing systems within Google Play. Only apps that use Google Mobile Services - which are fully documented by the company and licensed to device manufacturers (such as Samsung and Microsoft) - are considered to be proprietary. This capability exists in the event an end-user wants to install software that either doesn't conform to the Play Store's policies (such as adult content) or that simply isn't listed in the Play Store for whatever reason.Īdditionally, Android is fully open source as part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), so there is full transparency when it comes to APIs. ![]() Why? Android already can side-load applications, which includes third-party app stores. ![]()
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