On the subject of app scanning, this comment just pointed at Exodus Privacy, which can analyze Android apps for potential data violations. https://news.ycombin

On the subject of app scanning, this comment just pointed at Exodus Privacy, which can analyze Android apps for potential data violations. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37681899 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37681899 Perhaps the future is that Apple, along with government watchdogs, data consumer protection groups, etc. provide free public scans of apps to detect permissions misuse and data tracking. > I think the changes Apple should make is add a little indicator to every app showing the store it was purchased from encircling the icon with the default store color to remind of non-default privacy in that app. Just green badge them all and call it a day to let people know the app will be slower going through app specific memory encryption and API filtering with new anti-piracy frameworks to combat modified or fraudulent purchases. I think these discussions often assign a lot of agency to the data malefactors and little to Apple. I've often made the point that Apple, being the masters of UX and subtle social engineering, can exploit their design to nudge less technical users away from dubious apps, very similarly to how they've created the infamous dichotomy between blue and green text bubbles: https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&query=green%20bubble%20apocryphon&type=comment https://hn.algolia.com/?dateRange=all&query=green%20bubble%2... So I definitely agree that badging non-App Store apps can be a way to protect users by deterring those who don't know what they're doing from mucking about with questionable apps. I like the licensing board idea too. Make it so there are more protection groups out there besides Apple itself. Apply it to Android as well so users on that platform aren't shafted.