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Comment by yodon | Hacker News Reader

Supposed sandboxing against malicious apps is precisely why I run iOS rather than Android. I get that Charles isn’t malicious, but what’s keeping any random free game app from doing the same thing? (Again, intended as a real question not a rhetorical one)

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Setting up Charles requires two explicit authorization steps (each requiring passcode/fingerprint/face verification): First, network interception requires adding a VPN config (the dialog warns that "All network activity on this iPhone may be filtered or monitored when using VPN"). Second, SSL MITM requires installing and trusting a root CA certificate (the relevant prompts in iOS are less clear -- they say that the cert will not be trusted until you enable it, but don't explain the implications if you do enable it).

"what’s keeping any random free game app from doing the same" It's not that simple, as author stated, it was some of the most challenging code he ever wrote.

Charles desktop app is well respected in the developer community. There is no reason that the iOS app will be treated any differently.

1. You have to turn on VPN in the system settings.

2. You have to trust the Charlesproxy root certificate; again, in the system settings.

1a. This requires your passcode, and any time a system is asking for your permission to do something is worth questioning. Even my least technosavvy friends and family have learned that if something is asking for your password and you don't know why, abort.

I’d guess App Store reviews stops that.

The documentation states you have to follow the instructions to install the certificate manually which is what I would expect.

You can also click a link to a certificate on a webpage and install it manually on iOS.

How is that different from Android?

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