this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025
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Any devs here? I'm wondering if an app is more secure / has more restrictions if installed through the App Store as opposed to a DMG you download on the internet. I'm mostly concerned with filesystem permissions: the app is RetroArch and it is available on both the iOS and macOS App Store. Is it safer and more private if it's from the App Store? I know Apple's filesystem security policy is around specific folders in Home (Desktop, Downloads, etc.) but do App Store apps get random access to "unprotected" folders in the user's Home folder? Thanks!

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[–] ProjektSpartan@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Anything uploaded to the Apple App Store goes through a standard review process before Apple will let you release it on their store. Random DMG files you download from a website don’t.

Does that mean the app is more “secure”? Not necessarily. But you can at least be reasonably confident it’s not malware if nothing else.

[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 0 points 6 months ago

There is always a chance of malware, but that chance goes down with reviews.

[–] LeTak@lemm.ee 1 points 6 months ago

AFAIK the AppStore versions are often Sandboxed and have automatic update through the AppStore. I am not sure if they are better or more secure regarding the permissions API.

[–] flop_leash_973@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

The answer to that will vary depending on what you are looking to install.