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Apple quietly deletes nearly a hundred VPNs that allowed Russians to get around censorship (english.elpais.com)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

58 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The multinational has removed dozens of apps, even though the Kremlin’s censorship body did not order the move. These services, half-permitted by the government, enable people in Russia to access social networks and independent media

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[–] [email protected] 107 points 2 months ago (3 children)

This is why you don't buy into closed-garden ecosystems like this. If you're on iOS, there's nothing you can do about it, you're at their mercy. Android has great support for side loading. There's really only one choice if you care about freedom.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

You can side load on iPhone, it’s just not as easy. I have multiple side loaded apps.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don't you have to renew them all the time though?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not anymore if you use their new sideloading framework... which is only available in the EU

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

You still have to if you sign yourself. You still need a dev Account to sign for longer timeframe

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago

So you're saying that Apple doesn't have great support for side loaded apps unlike Android.

[+] [email protected] -25 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This is why you don’t buy into closed-garden ecosystems like this.

You can absolutely set up a VPN without any app, thus your argument of how this is a reason why the walled-garden concept is flawed. iOS also has side-loading btw :)

There’s really only one choice if you care about freedom.

There really isn't just one choice if you care about freedom, it's ironic you think a singular choice is the way forward anyway when talking about freedom. Really interesting how you shape this narrative based on zero facts.

Lastly, I think it's very funny that you think Google is someone you can trust to give you freedom

[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 months ago

You've replied to like 5 other of my comments the exact same thing at this point. Like I replied to the other guy, my comment is not saying you can't set up a VPN without an app, even though that's a very rare method of doing so regardless. Apple is literally a closed garden, that does not change anything lol.

Also no, like I said in my other comment, you can't side load. What you think is a "gotcha" is that there's a work around where you register a developer account and load an unofficial application that way. You know very well yourself that Apple does not want you sideloading, and this is not meant for consumer applications, and that it is easily blockable at any point by Apple. That is why the EU is constantly hitting Apple with anti-trust and anti-competition lawsuits. This has literally been proven in court, it is not an opinion. You are being incredibly bad faith for no reason. Apple does not want you sideloading, Android does.

Also AOSP is not Google. Though in reality, Google phones tend to support alternative operating systems the best. Even if that stopped being the case and they went locked down suddenly, there are still tons of other Android manufacturers out there that can have their bootloader unlocked and run their entirely own degoogled ecosystems. So you should probably know what you're talking about, but you think this is a brand vs brand debate or something. It's not, Android is simply designed around side-loading, is officially supported, and intended by consumers. iOS is not. It's not complicated.

[+] [email protected] -57 points 2 months ago (3 children)

iOS supports VPN out of the gate. Apps just make it easier to configure. Please don’t spew divisive misinformation, regardless if this is ignorant to the facts or otherwise.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Where did you read that I said iOS doesn't support adding VPNs?

My message is clearly talking about side loading. Don't twist my words.

[–] brbposting 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I do wish it were possible to make iOS more free. With that said, is it a fair comparison to draw when someone only knows how to use a VPN if it's in the App Store, whether Apple’s or Google Play?

So novices on either platform are harmed by lessened app availability even while both could be instructed to set a VPN up in settings or sideload an app.

Now if it’s a TOR browser or something, that’s a big L for Apple.

[+] [email protected] -21 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

and iOS supports sideloading, don't twist reality. The elitism is dripping from every word of your comment. It'd be alright if your comments were based in reality but they aren't :/

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago

Bro I hope Apple is paying you for all the white knighting you're doing for them. To side load on Apple, you have to create a developer account and treat it as if you're developing an app. That is borderline exploiting it and definitely not intended to be used for regular consumer applications. For all intents and purposes, you can't side load on Apple because this is not intended nor recommended for anyone, and is easily blocked by Apple if they ever choose to do so.

You're being blatantly bad faith to compare that to Android where you can simply download an apk, open it, and press install. It's entirely supported and intended by Android's design. Android goes so far to support seamless updates for third party app stores, and extends their app malware scanner to side loaded apks as well.

If you consider those two to be the same, then you're just in bad faith and not worth taking seriously, and are looking to argue for the sake of arguing. Apple is not your friend. They do not want you side loading, and you know this.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Normal VPNs don't work in Russia, you need one that's masked as usual traffic now.