Apple says third-party app stores would open iPhones to scammers

The company said June 23 on its website that requiring apps to be downloaded from the App Store protects consumers against scams, keeps their privacy secure and provides developers payment for their work. — Dreamstime/TNS

Apple Inc is raising fears about letting users install applications outside the company’s App Store, an issue being targeted by lawmakers and regulators that also played a prominent role in its recent trial against Epic Games Inc.

The company said June 23 on its website that requiring apps to be downloaded from the App Store protects consumers against scams, keeps their privacy secure and provides developers payment for their work. All those benefits could disappear if apps can be downloaded from third-party app stores with lesser protections or users get an app from a website or PC and “sideload” it onto the phone.