Just How Dangerous Are Your Mobile Apps?
September 20, 2011, By Michael Sheehan 0 comments
When selecting a new smart phone, changing carriers or even switching mobile platforms, thinking about the hardware is always fun. However, there is another part of the equation that is equally important: the application marketplace that brings your smart phone to life. For many, this depends on the type of person you are. If you just want things to work, you might prefer the Apple iOS platform. If you like tinkering around, Android may be the one for you. But when it comes to the safety of mobile apps, there are definitely some things to consider.
Sometimes it is easier to explain metaphorically. Let's think of mobile application markets and mobile Internet space as gardens or parks and consider three possibilities: the walled garden, the public civic park and the open field. Each represents different mobile environments and offers distinct advantages and disadvantages.
The Walled Garden
The walled garden is the Apple marketplace. You come here for a clean and safe experience. You get to enjoy being on the Internet without all of the riffraff bothering you in the process. The "equipment" is clean and polished and performs fine 99.99% of the time. You typically have the latest and greatest applications and have a huge selection to choose from. You don't have the possibility of malware creeping into your device. The iOS environment is heavily controlled and maintained to ensure positive usability. The quality control is pretty high but you do experience application crashes from time to time.
Advantages
- Applications are vetted by Apple prior to being released to the public
- Wide range of applications to choose from
- Purchasing and managing the purchase process is easy for multiple devices with the same account
Disadvantages
- Not all applications are allowed and some are restricted by Apple
- Some applications are removed if they violate Apple's terms of service
- You don’t have as much control over your mobile operating system
NEXT: The Public Civic Park
