Apple should open up iOS within a year, says Kaspersky CTO

By Stuart Sumner

17 Jun 2011

Comments: 23

Kaspersky's Nikolay Grebennikov

Apple cannot continue to lock down its iOS platform and restrict the types of software developed for it, says security firm Kaspersky's CTO Nikolay Grebennikov (pictured).

Speaking to Computing, he said: "Apple simply can't continue with its current closed approach, and in my opinion, to remain competitive it should be looking to open up its platform within a year."

"The Android platform, which is growing its market share, is much more open than the Apple iOS and it's easier to create new applications for Android, including security software," said Grebennikov.

Further reading

He said that while Apple provides its own security software for its iOS platform, which operates the iPhone and iPad devices, Apple is not an expert in security, and is therefore potentially putting its customers at risk.

"Apple is the only protector of its iPhone and iPad users but they don't know the real situation with threats.

"It's not possible to create the products they create, and be a world leader in security too; that expertise is elsewhere."

 

 

 

 

Reader comments

Even Microsoft has it's own way...

Microsoft is giving you a FREE antivirus solution, faster and probably more secure than the third party developers, they will loose their market soon and are busy now to find new markets and how can you make that happen soon. By fear and lies..., as always this will work for most people.

Posted by: L. van Veelen  20 Jun 2011

iOS is certainly not immune

RE: Just jumping in here to make a quick correction: the iOS is far from immune to malware. There's plenty out there, and it's on the rise.
Sleep soundly!
Posted by: Stuart Sumner "
-------------------------------------------
If it's on the rise and there's plenty out there... WHERE IS IT? I don't see or hear of any thing. If it is there, it would be big news. I just don't get it. Call it cocky or not, It just ain't happening and it won't with the closed system.

Posted by: Dave Johnson  19 Jun 2011

you got it wrong

My understanding is, that Apple is losing marketshare against Android, because it's closed.

If they keep it closed, Apple will die by itself :)

Posted by: Android rules  18 Jun 2011

Kaspersky is right

Kaspersky is actually spot on.
He just left out the words "for us" from the beginning of the sentence:
"to remain competitive it should be looking to open up its platform within a year."

Posted by: Geegee  18 Jun 2011

Stuart.. There is one HUGE issue...

There hasn't been ONE single malware on a non jailbroken iOS device YET.. Not a SINGLE one.. Zero. Zilch. Nothing.. Jailbroken devices cannot be counted as the security has been unlocked..

Posted by: Mike C.  17 Jun 2011

He's joking, right?

The question is, how does someone with Mr. Grebennikov's degree of utter cluelessness get to be a "security expert"? As for computing.co.uk, it looks like you guys will print anything!

Posted by: alansky  17 Jun 2011

Really Stuart? Name them.

Plenty of malware for iOS, Stuart?

Please name the variants and what they do. Go ahead, I'll wait.

- The Stig, sleeping like a baby.

Posted by: The Stig  17 Jun 2011

Yeah right

That's like Harold Hill singing about pool...

others of River City!
Heed the warning before it's too late!
Watch for the tell-tale sign of corruption!
The moment your son leaves the house,
Does he rebuckle his knickerbockers below the knee?
Is there a nicotine stain on his index finger?
A dime novel hidden in the corn crib?
Is he starting to memorize jokes from Capt.
Billy's Whiz Bang?
Are certain words creeping into his conversation?
Words like 'swell?"
And 'so's your old man?"
Well, if so my friends,
Ya got trouble,
Right here in River city!
With a capital "T"
And that rhymes with "P"
And that stands for Pool.
We've surely got trouble!
Right here in River City!
Remember the Maine, Plymouth Rock and the Golden Rule!
Oh, we've got trouble.
We're in terrible, terrible trouble.
That game with the fifteen numbered balls is a devil's tool!
Oh yes we got trouble, trouble, trouble!
With a "T"! Gotta rhyme it with "P"!
And that stands for Pool!!!

Please, just admit you're trying to get people to buy your nonsense so that you can sell software to people who right now don't need it.

And let's not even go into the fact that Android is not open.

Posted by: Hrunga Zmuda  17 Jun 2011

Indeed...

@Chas

...the last few years have been filled with warnings by security experts that Mac OS X malware was on the rise, that a tidal wave of the stuff was about to hit. I keep hearing (sorry, Stuart Sumner) smug commentary about how we all have blinders on, as if OS X and iOS users felt we were immune forever. We're watchful, just as much so (and right now it's very easy to be watchful, with a very small amount of malware gaining traction thus far).

I'm still waiting for the tidal wave. Not disputing it may come, but at the moment it sounds like crying wolf.

Posted by: Lee  17 Jun 2011

Kaspersky is malware in of itself

Platforms open enough to run antivirus software are open enough to run viruses. Period. Only "closed" platforms provide a secure environment free of viruses and anti-virus crapware. Android will soon follow suit and become closed so it doesn't become another Windows. Kaspersky, find a new business model - the days of the virus game are numbered.

Posted by: Mikey 101010  17 Jun 2011

Hmmm think he has a motive behind his "opinion"

Wow the security companies find themselves locked out because there is such low risk to malware they have no business model anymore.

Apple may not be perfect but lets get one thing perfectly straight -- I purchased an Apple iPhone BECAUSE ITS A CLOSED SYSTEM....

You people are just shaking in your boots! Dude go get a new job, your business model is going bye-bye!

Posted by: charles  17 Jun 2011

Apple just hired a world-class security expert...

..."former U.S. Naval cryptology officer and NSA global network vulnerability analyst David Rice ." Read more here: http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/21637-apple-hires-a-security-expert . Thanks for the suggestion, but I think they're gonna be OK without it, Nikolay...

Posted by: Ken Spellman  17 Jun 2011

iOS should stay Closed

Can you name one example of malware that has hit iOS? I can only remember one Trojan that hit the Mac OS. It's much harder to hit a closed platform. Indeed, if I wanted to be on an open, but insecure platform, I'd be on Android. Most of us who use iOS, like the closed sandbox, and want iOS to stay that way.

PS - Intego and Sophos are far better anyway. Kapersky is not as solid.

Posted by: GreyFlame  17 Jun 2011

IOS is a secure platform

Why didn’t Kaspersky’s CTO just come right out and say, “We wish Apple would make its platform insecure like Google, so that we can sell ‘security’ to hundreds of millions of iOS users?”

Posted by: MDN  17 Jun 2011

Kasperky versus IOS

If I understand this better you want IOS to become Windows?

I can understand the benefit to your company but not to consumers?

Posted by: Mike Bauer  17 Jun 2011

Put your money where your mouth is

@Stuart Sumner

Please cite any cases of malware on iOS—oh, you can't! Your assertion is almost as preposterous and without merit as Grebenniko's.

Posted by: Chas  17 Jun 2011

Ok....

"to remain competitive it should be looking to open up its platform within a year."

Umm...so this guy is telling the management team that took Apple from the brink of death to $120 Billion in the bank how to run the company?

Thanks Nikolay! Next!

Posted by: NotTellinYou  17 Jun 2011

Oil of Olay

How does everyone know how old this guys is? Maybe he just uses Oil of Olay.

Posted by: Dave S  17 Jun 2011

iOS is certainly not immune

Just jumping in here to make a quick correction: the iOS is far from immune to malware. There's plenty out there, and it's on the rise.

Sleep soundly!

Posted by: Stuart Sumner  17 Jun 2011

Transparent Motive

I can't be the only person who can clearly hear the subtext of these statements. All he's saying is that he really wishes Apple would open it up so, not only could Kaspersky make security software for iOS, but they'd love for there to be a need for their products too, please. If I had been the person interviewing him, I'd have had to fight a laugh.

Posted by: HappySlug  17 Jun 2011

I have Macs older than this kid . . .

and people have been saying Apple is doomed since before he was born.

Posted by: michael  17 Jun 2011

History

Nikolay Grebennikov doesn't know much about Apple's history (he doesn't look old enough to know much about Apple's history). There is no way they're doing this just to help you sell more of your AV products that are currently not needed on iOS. Plus, Apple makes far more money than Google, and developers make more money with iOS than Android, so there is no financial reason for Apple to do this. This is just pie-in-the-sky dreaming by someone who wants to sell needless products to a growing market. What's next, Mr. Grebennikov, fart apps?

Posted by: Don  17 Jun 2011

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Kaspersky's CTO Nikolay Grebennikov (pictured) is simply saying: PLEASE GIVE ME A JOB, APPLE.

iOS will NEVER be "open" to the point of allowing anyone, anywhere, to upload any software on an iOS device. This allows mayhem, viruses, malware, crashes, and other BAD consumer user experiences.

Apple's primary focus IS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE. This means the consumer has to feel SAFE.

An open operating system IS NOT SAFE. That is why such an OS needs antivirus and other security software. This is completely against Apple's focus.

Currently, iOS (unless the consumer hacks it) is completely immune from viruses and malware, keyloggers, and other security problem of "open" systems like Android.

Thus, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha to Kaspersky's CTO Nikolay Grebennikov (pictured).

Posted by: James Katt  17 Jun 2011

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