The multinational has removed dozens of apps, even though the Kremlin’s censorship body did not order the move. These services, half-permitted by the government, enable people in Russia to access social networks and independent media
This is why you don’t buy into closed-garden ecosystems like this. If you’re on iOS, there’s nothing you can do about it, you’re at their mercy. Android has great support for side loading. There’s really only one choice if you care about freedom.
You can side load on iPhone, it’s just not as easy. I have multiple side loaded apps.
Don’t you have to renew them all the time though?
This is why you don’t buy into closed-garden ecosystems like this.
You can absolutely set up a VPN without any app, thus your argument of how this is a reason why the walled-garden concept is flawed. iOS also has side-loading btw :)
There’s really only one choice if you care about freedom.
There really isn’t just one choice if you care about freedom, it’s ironic you think a singular choice is the way forward anyway when talking about freedom. Really interesting how you shape this narrative based on zero facts.
Lastly, I think it’s very funny that you think Google is someone you can trust to give you freedom
You’ve replied to like 5 other of my comments the exact same thing at this point. Like I replied to the other guy, my comment is not saying you can’t set up a VPN without an app, even though that’s a very rare method of doing so regardless. Apple is literally a closed garden, that does not change anything lol.
Also no, like I said in my other comment, you can’t side load. What you think is a “gotcha” is that there’s a work around where you register a developer account and load an unofficial application that way. You know very well yourself that Apple does not want you sideloading, and this is not meant for consumer applications, and that it is easily blockable at any point by Apple. That is why the EU is constantly hitting Apple with anti-trust and anti-competition lawsuits. This has literally been proven in court, it is not an opinion. You are being incredibly bad faith for no reason. Apple does not want you sideloading, Android does.
Also AOSP is not Google. Though in reality, Google phones tend to support alternative operating systems the best. Even if that stopped being the case and they went locked down suddenly, there are still tons of other Android manufacturers out there that can have their bootloader unlocked and run their entirely own degoogled ecosystems. So you should probably know what you’re talking about, but you think this is a brand vs brand debate or something. It’s not, Android is simply designed around side-loading, is officially supported, and intended by consumers. iOS is not. It’s not complicated.
iOS supports VPN out of the gate. Apps just make it easier to configure. Please don’t spew divisive misinformation, regardless if this is ignorant to the facts or otherwise.
Why are we not allowed to use these “apps that make it easier to configure”?
Where did you read that I said iOS doesn’t support adding VPNs?
My message is clearly talking about side loading. Don’t twist my words.
and iOS supports sideloading, don’t twist reality. The elitism is dripping from every word of your comment. It’d be alright if your comments were based in reality but they aren’t :/
Bro I hope Apple is paying you for all the white knighting you’re doing for them. To side load on Apple, you have to create a developer account and treat it as if you’re developing an app. That is borderline exploiting it and definitely not intended to be used for regular consumer applications. For all intents and purposes, you can’t side load on Apple because this is not intended nor recommended for anyone, and is easily blocked by Apple if they ever choose to do so.
You’re being blatantly bad faith to compare that to Android where you can simply download an apk, open it, and press install. It’s entirely supported and intended by Android’s design. Android goes so far to support seamless updates for third party app stores, and extends their app malware scanner to side loaded apks as well.
If you consider those two to be the same, then you’re just in bad faith and not worth taking seriously, and are looking to argue for the sake of arguing. Apple is not your friend. They do not want you side loading, and you know this.
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Imagine thinking that’s the same thing as Android’s side loading support. The cope is real.
Their comment got deleted, what did they say?
I do wish it were possible to make iOS more free. With that said, is it a fair comparison to draw when someone only knows how to use a VPN if it’s in the App Store, whether Apple’s or Google Play?
So novices on either platform are harmed by lessened app availability even while both could be instructed to set a VPN up in settings or sideload an app.
Now if it’s a TOR browser or something, that’s a big L for Apple.
is it a fair comparison to draw when someone only knows how to use a VPN if it’s in the App Store
This whole thread is absurd, sideloading is possible on iOS, end of story. As per the original OP, their comment is 100% about sideloading
My message is clearly talking about side loading. Don’t twist my words.
The U.S. company — whose phones are still sold in Russian stores despite the firm officially leaving the market due to the invasion of Ukraine…
Apple taking a brave stand as ever.
Suspicious!
You can use most VPN services via the Wireguard or OpenVPN apps though, or even via some of the protocols natively supported by iOS not requiring any third-party app.
Absolutely, in addition to this, you can sideload apps as well without issue. I do it all the time
Normies never heard about wireguard nor openvpn, this enough to deter a lot of ppl imo
Oh I’m not trying to imply otherwise.
The issue is 3rd party apps make it easier for non-techie people to subvert censorship. Raising the bar works bigly in the Kremlin’s favor.
side-loading in iOS has been possible for some time now
I see no mention of what they actually removed or how reputable they are. “VPN apps” are a reasonably common approach to spyware. (Common enough that literally Facebook has done it.)
You mean vpn apps deploy spyware?
They’re a good actual mechanism for spyware, because they see all your traffic.
Https means that they can’t see the actual contents without installing a root certificate, but they can see all the sites you visit and for how long. Reputable providers (at least the good ones) do not log any of this, but you should have a high level of trust in a provider to use their VPN, because they see a lot still.
That doesn’t mean that they didn’t ban legit VPNs. I don’t know. But it doesn’t really qualify as “reporting news” without at least a list of the apps that were banned, because they’re providing no information at all about the legitimacy of the apps, and it’s a category appealing to bad actors.
Whoops! Did they put them back I hope?
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Yeah, no. iPhone VPN apps aren’t the route that Russian hackers are taking.
