It is very possible that you are considering downloading third-party apps on your iPhone from the internet. Either to save money from the app or that it is not available in the official store. Beyond the App Store there is an immense world of possibilities, but iOS has security systems that prevent possible threats from these places. That is why in this article we analyze this possibility, since it really is not how you perhaps thought.
The difference with an Android mobile
If you come from an Android phone or have seen or read about the downloads in these, you will already know that from the browser it is possible to download “apk” files that are later installable on the device and work like just another app. The disadvantage of this method is that in many cases it requires continuously downloading files manually to update applications. If it is also a paid app that is free on the internet, you should know that the download you are doing is pirted.
On an iPhone, on the other hand, it is not possible to do this type of download . Apple has security mechanisms that prevent this type of installation. It will not matter if you use Safari, Chrome or any other browser.
The App Store is 100% reliable
The main reason why Apple vetoes these types of downloads is the existence of the App Store. This application store has thousands of applications and games at your fingertips, either by free download, paid or with subscriptions within the applications themselves. If they all have something in common, it is going through Apple’s arduous security verification system. There is no app that enters this place without having been reviewed by specialists who ensure that they comply with security and privacy regulations, in addition to being fully optimized for devices.
Internet downloads, no matter how safe they may seem, could bring malware that infects your device, preventing its proper functioning and / or putting your data at risk. Therefore it is understandable that the company prevents it. There is a false myth that iPhones are virus free, and to some extent it is true. Apple releases updates with some assiduity that guarantee the security of the system and cover possible vulnerabilities, but also the impediment of these downloads is another fundamental pillar of the fact that malware is hardly detected on iOS computers.
If there is an app that is not available in the App Store
It is totally legal to want to enjoy an application or service that is not available in the App Store. However, in most cases, the reason that these are not in the Apple store has enough weight to make you distrust. The company probably left it out for being insecure or even containing malware, so downloading from another portal does not guarantee that this is the case.
There are some video game services from well-known platforms such as Xbox that are intended to be available through Safari, but in this case we are talking about a prestigious company such as Microsoft whose security is also guaranteed and that does not imply a direct download of files that can infect the iPhone.
If you want free paid apps
There is a totally legal and lawful way to have free applications and games and it is with the weekly offers offered by the App Store itself. Normally these are not announced except for very specific cases, but from time to time interesting discounts appear. Obviously waiting for the one you want to be on sale is not the most recommended in the world because there is no guarantee that it will have discounts, but you can always make new discoveries. Without going any further, on this same website we publish a compilation of applications on offer every Wednesday and games on Friday, so if you are attentive you can find out before anyone else.
There is a method, but it has risks
You may have ever heard of the jailbreak . This, in short, is a method by which the limitations of Apple’s operating system can be eliminated, allowing the iPhone to have personalized functions in a broader and more open way than in the normal way. However, this method is not recommended for several reasons that we already told you in a past article.
Beyond the fact that it is something foreign to Apple and that makes you even lose the iPhone warranty if you had it, it would put your terminal at risk if you download files as third-party applications. Through this jailbreak you can download apps from a multitude of sources, but if you do not have a certain knowledge or the portals offer guarantees of being safe applications, you will be putting your device in trouble against possible vulnerabilities.
