[OT] Draconian computer company policies, was: Mobile LC Apps Downloading Stacks After installation

[Curry Kenworthy]

Mark:

 > I think Johnathan made the best point here - if you want into the
 > iOS world and the AppStore Apple provide you have to abide by their
 > rules. However, if you don't care about the AppStore, then just
 > jailbreak your phone and run free - no-one is stopping you.

 > It is entirely your choice :)

No, it's not merely a personal matter by any stretch of the imagination. 
This is a social and tech reality that affects all of us, our 
technological environment. You are framing this as primarily a security 
matter to save the masses, with a handy personal jail break or xCode 
opt-out that solves the matter for any individual who feels differently. 
(No thanks on JB, nor do I generally recommend that to others. Nor is my 
interest mainly personal, but rather as a consultant and developer. I 
doubt most true end users feel comfy with xCode, assuming they even have 
a Mac.) Sorry, I tend to be a frame breaker! It's missing out on the 
bigger picture of Apple's system, and similarly the impact of tech 
trends, not only from Apple but other major players.

Much more complex, and it affects us far beyond our own choices. While 
someone here is waxing poetic about the security benefits, at one time 
or another someone has likely iPhoned that person's own data around 
insecurely in ways that would alarm you! Perhaps it has happened to you 
too without your knowledge. I've seen it too many times, very 
widespread. Often by people working for a reputable company or providing 
a vital professional service, but clueless or careless. Neither is the 
data completely secure even with companies that are more careful - the 
masses don't realize that. At the same time people are desensitized to 
sharing more data than ever. That makes them - and through them, 
sometimes you - very vulnerable.

Security goes way beyond malware. Security is an integral part of 
Apple's system, but it's not a system primarily for the sake of 
security. Fairly easy to have safe apps outside of a particular app 
store. One way would be setting up other download repositories that are 
checked. Another is using networked antivirus systems, which are already 
popular and advanced.

Going beyond security - breaking that frame again - it's much bigger. 
Richmond already had some good points, so maybe I don't need to add any, 
but for example: Actual publishing standards and choices are not all 
about security, quality, decency, and good style as advertised. 
Marketing versus reality. What viewpoints, topics, or potentially 
beneficial technologies might be suppressed? That would not be a big 
deal when there are multiple venues, but when there is one....

The whole society is also affected by tech trends, and the circle goes 
around, consumer behavior and choices, how professionals use and 
sometimes misuse the tech (I'm seeing that too, it can be within the law 
but extremely harmful for consumers), data expectations and 
proliferation, over-availability or under-availability of information, 
control, ideology, intrusive or invasive trends, healthy awareness and 
ability versus dangerous dumbing down and complacency, more 
comprehensive security versus a sense of security or partial security, 
the effects of dependency on a single venue and its viewpoint and its 
quirks - in the end, everyone is touched.

Perceiving how technology trends impact society, and in turn come back 
to impact each of us, is very valuable and all too easy to overlook as 
we rush to keep up with those trends and create new ones. Definitely 
worth a look for those who don't want to avoid one type of risk only to 
fall into another! Stay safe. Hope everyone is doing well -- I haven't 
been able to pop up much here in the list lately.

Best wishes,

Curry Kenworthy

Custom Software Development
http://curryk.com/consulting/