side load an application. The EU doesn't seem to give a sh1t about the safety/security of naive users who, until this becomes available, relied on Apple to keep them secure from malicious apps. I can already see the Safari popups inviting users to download a cool free app from lord-knows-where. A warning that they're about to install an application from a potentially dangerous source should be done for sure. It would be even nicer if Apple required all apps - side loaded or not - to go through the Apple review process or at least be signed with a valid certificate so there's at least traceability.
Side loading works great on the Mac as long as you only load software with a valid developer certificate. I expect the same on iOS. If you believe that the App Store protects you from malware you are just wrong. The App Store review process is great to enforce the rules defined by Apple on how apps should behave and on content restrictions, but any well hidden malware would not be detected.
Side loading works great on a Mac because you can install endpoint protection tools to help you fight malware. You can’t do that (yet) on iOS, or at least the available tools don’t have the deep level of access to iOS that they would need to be able to be as effective. I can only imagine the battery killer that something like Symantec would be on your iPhone as it constantly scans for malicious software. The App Store does protect you from malware and shitty apps, not 100%, but way better than Android’s wild, wild, west app stores.
Ultimately mobile and desktop are NOT the same and should not be treated as such.
I appreciate Apple’s “walled garden” and use it for that reason. If I wanted my device to be riddled with crapware and full of additional attack vectors for malicious actors I would have chosen Android. (less)