Appleâs iOS 17.4 update is due to arrive any minute now, along with game-changing new features that will transform your iPhone forever.
Appleâs iOS 17.4 comes with huge implications for iPhone users based in the EU, because the upgrade allows iOS sideloading, opening up the App Store and platform for the first time to comply with the European Unionâs Digital Markets Act (DMA).
This week, as Apple released iOS 17.4 beta 3, more has been revealedâand many EU based iPhone users are unhappy about new changes to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
Hereâs what you need to know about Appleâs biggest-ever iPhone software update.
Appleâs iOS 17.4 Allows iOS Sideloading
The headline iOS 17.4 changeâfor users in the EU at leastâis the fact the upgrade opens up the iPhone to sideloading apps. Sideloading has been possible for Googleâs Android users for some time, but Appleâs locked down ecosystem is the reason many security-conscious users buy an iPhone.
The iPhone maker acknowledges the iOS 17.4 changes will impact security, and itâs been vocal so far about the safeguards it has put in place to protect users. For now at least, Apple will only allow certain app stores it calls âApp Marketplacesâ to distribute apps, followings its rules and stipulations.
It is also using Notarization for iOS apps, a form of security verification that checks for malicious code, as well as an authorization for marketplace developers and disclosures on alternative payments.
However even with these safeguards in place, âmany risks remain,â Apple said.
iOS 17.4 Removes Support for Home Screen Web Apps
Earlier in the month, EU based iOS 17.4 beta users noticed they couldnât run web apps on their iPhoneâs Home Screen. Some people thought it might be a bug, but sadly, itâs now clear this isnât the case.
Apple has confirmed PWAs have been removed intentionally and wonât be running in iOS 17.4 for EU based users, according to 9to5Mac.
In an update on its developer site, Apple explains how the move in iOS 17.4 to no longer support PWAs allows it to comply with the DMA, which stipulates it supports alternative browser engines in the EU.
The catch here is, the regulation means companies can build browsers that arenât based on Appleâs WebKit engine for the first time. The resulting threat to security means it has to remove Home Screen web apps in iOS 17.4, Apple says.
From iOS 17.4, Apple has also removed support for Home Screen web apps in Safari to comply with the DMA, since it would be unfair to give its own browser an advantage over those it doesnât allow.
Apple explains the move:
âThe iOS system has traditionally provided support for Home Screen web apps by building directly on WebKit and its security architecture. That integration means Home Screen web apps are managed to align with the security and privacy model for native apps on iOS, including isolation of storage and enforcement of system prompts to access privacy impacting capabilities on a per-site basis.
âWithout this type of isolation and enforcement, malicious web apps could read data from other web apps and recapture their permissions to gain access to a userâs camera, microphone or location without a userâs consent. Browsers also could install web apps on the system without a userâs awareness and consent.â
From iOS 17.4, EU users will be able to continue accessing websites directly from their Home Screen through a bookmark.
Many people are unhappy about the PWA changes, with encrypted email provider Proton questioning Appleâs motives.
However, Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace says he can ârelate to the thought and reasoning behind Appleâs decision.â
âWith the ability to download and install browsers from sources outside of Appleâs control and visibility, they are concerned that they might not adhere to security and privacy standards they would like to enforce,â Wright explains.
Wright therefore agrees with Appleâs iOS 17.4 PWA change. âWe have to remember that many users will not have the appropriate technical knowledge and know-how to protect themselves, so having this in place allows Apple to help, to some degree.â
Yet at the same time, Wright says heâs âcurious if there are details from Apple about just how much of a risk this poses.â
âAfter all we have open systems such as Android and it doesnât appear to be, at least currently, too much of a risk.â
Other Notable iOS 17.4 Features
One of the headline features in iOS 17.3 is Stolen Device Protection and iOS 17.4 will enhance this popular anti-theft capability even more. Currently, the feature requires people to authenticate via Face ID or Touch ID and thereâs an hourâs delay when changing security settings, unless Apple detects they are in a familiar location. From iOS 17.4, Apple will add a feature allowing you to require an hourâs delay from all locations.
Why iOS 17.4 Changes the Game For All iPhone Users
Itâs certainly a game-changing update and there wonât be long to waitâiOS 17.4 is arriving very soon. Apple has to release its upgrade in early March to meet the 6 March deadline, so expect it late this month or very early next.
When it does arrive, thereâs no doubt iOS 17.4 is a significant update for EU-based users, with implications that also impact the rest of the world. Opening up the App Store is a big deal for the iPhone maker, and regulation in the UK could force its hand even though the country is no longer in the EU.
As for the rest of the world, could users and regulators demand the changes in iOS 17.4 extend? Anything is possible, but for now, Apple will be trying to ensure its walled garden stands strong for as long as possible.
Alex Mitchell is your go-to expert for all things mobile. With a passion for the latest smartphones, apps, and mobile innovations, Alex provides in-depth reviews, insightful analyses, and breaking news about the ever-evolving world of mobile technology. Stay connected with Alex to navigate the fast-paced realm of mobile devices.