Sideloading apps are not inherently insecure, but they can lead users to cyberattacks and malware downloads. It’s rare for iPhones to be infected with malware, in part because Apple treats iOS like a walled garden and has a meticulous process to keep iPhones safe, including vetting apps in the App Store and banning sideloading.
Apple claims that these new features, which ensure compliance with DMA, make people who use them more vulnerable to cyberattacks. This is why Apple refuses to make these changes outside the EU. It’s not clear if these concerns are genuine or if the company is simply trying to maintain control over its ecosystem.
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Lawmakers and developers hope (and Apple fears) that the DMA will force companies the EU considers gatekeepers to stop abusing their market power and, in this case, open up the app market. Apple’s unenthusiastic adherence to the regulations, however, has fueled debates about the security of third-party app stores, something the company won’t let us forget.
Indeed, Apple has published “Compliance with the Digital Markets Act”, a white paper in which several EU government agencies involved in defence, banking and emergency services have expressed their concerns. Those agencies sought assurances from Apple about ways to prevent employees from sideloading apps onto government-owned iPhones.
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Moreover, the white paper mentions that users have reached out to Apple CEO Tim Cook to express their concerns about DMA and ask if the changes will compromise the security of their iPhones.