I can see the advantages to apple’s app store, all the applications are code reviewed (I don’t know how well) to ensure that your iPhone experience is as seamless and smooth as possible. Poorly coded apps are refused until they are brought up to the required standard. Another advantage is the added security of knowing that the apps will not have any malicious code etc…. we would like to think!!
Jailbreaking the device allows you to install 3rd party apps that do not go through the same testing and could have malicious code. This has always been a worry of mine (yes I need to get out more) to the point of turning off the GSM data of the phone forcing it to use wifi and analysing the traffic over a 24 hour period to ensure my email and contacts were not being uploaded to china/russia!!
The iPhone firewall app in the cydia app store hooks into all the apps and when a connection is made the user is prompted to allow or deny the connection like a standard firewall. At the minute it looks like it only blocks GUI apps and any commands executed on the BSD under system are free to do what they want which is a little off putting. Then again I did say that we can’t trust 3rd party apps……. the firewall app is a 3rd party app….. Perhaps it’s time for the tin foil hats?
Nino
