"LockAppStore" from openstore ?!?

[Keneda]

https://open-store.io/app/lockappstore.lockappstore

What is the purpose of this app, it's not clear.
It seems to be an alternative store, so outside of the openstore, without supervison of ubports then.

It claims that it aims at "locking sourcecode of your app" but from what i know, you can release closed (proprietary ?) source code apps on the Open Store.

We can't even know who's the dev of this app, no topic here to tell us about it, and again, very unclear purpose in description, even licensing of the app itself is unclear as it is said "proprietary" in OpenStore and GNU GPLv3 on github ???

[AppLee]

@keneda
There is this thread
https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6900/upload-an-app-to-open-store-error

If you don't know or want this app, no one is forcing you.
Why the thread ? To ask about this app ? To warn people ? To advertise your own app :face_with_tongue: :winking_face:

Maybe just ask the author about it.

[Keneda]

@applee said in "LockAppStore" from openstore ?!?:

If you don't know or want this app, no one is forcing you.
Why the thread ? To ask about this app ? To warn people ? To advertise your own app

Because i'm wondering about what can be done on what seems to be an "alternative store" where anyone can publish closed source code, and so, let's say, full access to system apps that, without review of ubports, could do anything good or bad.

Isn't safety of user is a thing in Ubuntu Touch policy, including users that don't have any knowledge and could think "it's on openstor it's safe" ?

[AppLee]

@keneda said in "LockAppStore" from openstore ?!?:

users that don't have any knowledge and could think "it's on openstor it's safe"

No one can a thing for those poor souls :face_with_tears_of_joy:

There is also freedom. :winking_face:
@007fred50 saw a need for their app and made it.
I didn't pay attention to it and if it's an alternative store then I don't see an issue.
If people want to be sure they should read and understand what's at stake when installing an app.

Also you can by a phone with Ubuntu Touch preinstalled. An ill intended person could install malware to spy on you.
User awareness is the best protection because security cannot be implemented if the user acts against it.

I repeat, you should ask your questions to the app creator.

Bullets don't kill, people do. Apps on the open-store are tools you're free to leave them be.

[Keneda]

@applee said in "LockAppStore" from openstore ?!?:

Bullets don't kill, people do.

Not providing bullets will prevent people from using it.

I repeat, you should ask your questions to the app creator.

This thread is for everyone to involve, app creator included.

If people want to be sure they should read and understand what's at stake when installing an app.

As the app itself is confined, and is on openstore, people could think it's safe to use.
Ubuntu Touch is for all users, not only power ones, that's why it's safety first based.
App in itself is not the problem, that's the lack of warning users that is.
Unconfined apps on openstore are taged "dangerous", twice when not done by ubports.

Maybe this app should impuls creating a new category in open store taged as "alternative store" and "use at your own risk, anything can happen if you install apps from outside the open store using this app, including giving acces to all your system to a third party".

That's the point of this thread in fact, not to point the app or its creator, but the security issue that comes with it as it is proposed for now on openstore.

[Alter]

@AppLee : I think that no one of us is against freedom of choice regarding apps, but I agree with @Keneda that regular users should be safeguarded against possibly harmful apps by putting a warning on it. Unconfined apps have, but this app doesn't. The information provided by the app maintainer is not easy to follow, and I think could do with a rewrite to more clearly state what it is. If I understand correctly, it is an alternative app store with solely closed source apps, and the possibility to make your own. Why anyone would want to install it, is beyond me? We are an open source community, after all. But, I think this should definitely have some kind of warning as this goes beyond just being an app, and it's closed source.

[Lakotaubp]

While everyone is responsible for what they download and install on their devices warning or no warning in this case maybe the app developer @007fred50 could explain here (where there is more space) what their app is for and how it works, and if any warnings about downloading apps from it will have warnings. That might help clear up any worries people have.
As for a warning or not on the AppStore the best person for that is probably @bhdouglass

[Keneda]

@lakotaubp said in "LockAppStore" from openstore ?!?:

While everyone is responsible for what they download and install on their devices

I love freedom, that's why i love open open source as it let user free doing anything he wants, even on Ubuntu Touch wich is write only system files and sandboxed, you can yes override those safeties.

And while i would try to not install closed source stuff on an open-source system, i have no problem with it being possible for anyone wanting to do so.

But, OpenStore is kind of a "safe space" where apps are safe by os and store design, 99% confined apps, and 1% reviewed by ubports devs unconfined apps.

Now there is a big hole in this.

[Lakotaubp]

@keneda Let's wait and see what is said by those mentioned by me above. The hole is only there if you step into it after all. Maybe things can be made clearer one way or another, but I understand your concern. So lets see.

[007fred50]

Hello, i got setup a vote system here can you vote if you not will have the app on OpenStore or Keep it (https://forums.ubports.com/topic/6945/lockappstore-should-be-on-openstore-or)

[Lakotaubp]

@007fred50 Thank you for taking the time and responding.

[Alter]

@007fred50 : will respond on the new thread instead