[mwnivek]

Is there reason to believe apps on Google Play Store are significantly less safe than apps on Apple's app store?

I think that Android provides the best of both worlds: gatekeeping on the official app store, and the option (with warnings) to install from other sources. I believe that families and enterprises can also disable third-party installs.

[csunbird]

Let me give an anecdote, which happened to me:

The last Android phone that I had was a Galaxy Note 4. Along with the bloatware that Samsung pushes and can not be uninstalled, there was an app called Peel Remote. This app is also published to Google Play Store and updated from there.

So, after updating my apps from Play store to latest version, as you are supposed to do, at morning I woke up and saw my home screen was changed and showing an ad. Also, I realized, sometimes a full screen ad pops up, randomly when I was using the phone. After a lot of investigation, I found out the uninstallable app that is included in the phone, Peel "Smart" Remote (the irony), which is published and updated through Play store, silently decided that showing full screen ads and replacing my home screen with ads was a good move, through an update.

There is NO WAY that an update like this could be pushed to Apple's App Store.

[outadoc]

It also has nothing to do with the issue. The Play Store could be (and has been made) more and more safe, while retaining the option of alternative stores and installation sources.

[csunbird]

The approval and screening process were not adequate and stuff like this were always happening. Google still thought they are entitled to get 30 percent.

I am not sure how or when it has improved but my trust was breached and it was not restored still today. There are a lot of junk/fearmongering/placebo applications in Play Store, e.g. "RAM Cleaner" or random "Anti Virus" applications.

Apple should relax their requirements, sure, but I am really willing to stick to the Apple store to prevent stuff like this.

[arvinsim]

How would you propose Apple "relax their requirements"?

[csunbird]

For example, the strict "All purchasing/subscription offers made in the app should be from Apple Store" should be changed to "You are allowed to inform your customers that there are other ways of subscribing, but you have to offer the same options through the app".

I understand this clause is there to protect customers from shady apps that try to trick customers to pay for non relevant things (e.g. app asking people to purchase something else to activate the app outside of app store), while it is too convenient for Apple to guarantee that they will get their cut.