EU crackdown on Apple Store ‘will fuel’ cyber security threats

Expert recommends organizations should adopt a ‘security by PlayStation’ model.

European Union legislators are trying to disband Apple’s monopoly over its App Store. But although monopolies can be problematic, Apple has ensured its devices are nearly impossible to breach and infect by restricting what apps its customers can access.

Thus, WithSecure’s CRO and security expert, Mikko Hyppönen, believes that the EU’s anti-trust measures might lead to an explosion in hackers introducing malware to Apple’s devices.

“Of course, monopolies are bad. I can totally see why the EU wants to break that apart. But the end result is bad for security. As soon as you can start downloading arbitrary executables for your iOS devices, there will be more attacks,” he explained.

About the Digital Media Act

EU lawmakers are in the process of passing the Digital Media Act (DMA) into effect. If passed, it would force big-tech companies to let go of their monopolies. This would compel Apple to allow its users access to third-party apps, despite the data security risks.

Security by PlayStation

Although Apple’s devices are not entirely immune to security threats, the Silicon Valley-based company is known for its robust cyber security thanks to a model Hyppönen calls the ‘security by PlayStation.’ It is founded on the fact that gaming consoles tend to have the most impenetrable data security features because they are difficult to modify.

He elaborates, “You never have malware on your Xbox or your Playstation. You never hear of ransomware attacks on games consoles. They never get hacked. They’re very locked down, very restricted devices; devices which are not modifiable or programmable by the end user. It’s a computer that you own, but don’t have the right to program.”

As a result, companies are increasingly shifting to a ‘security by PlayStation’ model due to the robustness of gaming consoles. Hyppönen believes this trend will likely accelerate over the following years.

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