eli5: Why do computer operating systems have lots of viruses and phone operating systems don’t?
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How would you like it if the only app you can download on your computer has to come from the Microsoft store? And every game you buy, the developer needs to pay 30% to Microsoft?
Well that’s how iOS works, they lock down the way to get apps and make it hard for users to get tricked into downloading viruses/scam apps. Even if they do, there are a lot of restrictions on what the app can do to the device, all those annoying permission dialogues means the user can’t accidentally let an app become a keylogger.
On Android, you can indeed sideload apps to your heart’s content, but you need to turn it on yourself, and it still limits what apps can do to the OS without getting past the bootloader. Though it is way easier than iOS and Android viruses are definitely around.
Whereas on a desktop OS, we tend to expect that we can install anything we want from anybody, paying them without a third party. That lack of regulation is great for power users who want to do anything, but at the cost of making the average user be susceptible to dangers.
Newer desktop OS are starting to lock down permissions, at least privacy concerns like location, microphone, camera permissions.
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