Comment Re:Oh Boy! (Score 3, Insightful) 30
Good, this will teach them why downloading random crap from random internet sites is bad idea the hard way (the only way some people learn).
My impression of the iOS app store is that it's got an EXTREMELY low quality bar. I don't trust that my searches are getting the authentic app because (1) search results are swayed by advertising, (2) people publish "lookalike" apps that look like they're official but aren't. Say I want to download the safeway app to get coupons? I already do an internet search for Safeway, search for the app on their site, and click on the deep link "get it on the app store" just to be sure I'm getting the right app.
Why is downloading random crap a bad idea?
Is it because the random crap will abuse your privacy? -- already happens plenty with app-store apps. The "privacy notice" that developers write for their apps in the app store are largely useless. The only thing I trust is built-in OS level protections in the operating system, e.g. "can this app access your pictures/location?", which will be the same for app-store downloaded vs externally-downloaded.
Is it because the random crap will add a virus? -- this is something that should be at the OS level, not at the app-store level. No excuses. And iOS seems really good in this respect.
Is it because the random crap will be power-hungry? -- already happens plenty with app-store apps.
I think it's definitely possible to build an OS where "downloading random crap" is actually fine because of OS-level sandboxes and other protections. And I think iOS is already mostly there.