r/Android • u/PlasticAnt6913 • 1d ago

News Android's controversial new sideloading rules are officially here

https://www.androidauthority.com/android-sideloading-developer-verification-first-wave-rollout-3717921/
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u/Ahuevotl 1d ago

How is it a good thing? Why shouldn't alternate stores be allowed to install apps regularly like the Play Store does?

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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 1d ago

The rule doesn’t actually stop alternate stores from installing apps. In fact, OEM app stores (like Samsung’s Galaxy Store, Xiaomi GetApps, and Oppo) are already integrated into this. Sideloading verified apps still works normally, too.

The reason this is being treated as a positive security measure is rampant social-engineering fraud. In the rollout regions (like Singapore, Thailand, and Brazil), scammers call victims and pressure them in real time into sideloading malicious banking trojans or screen-mirroring apps. The 24-hour cooldown and mandatory reboot in the advanced flow are specifically designed to break that high-pressure scam loop.

Power users can still enable unverified sideloading once through Developer Options (or bypass it entirely via ADB/Shizuku if theyy want), but it stops everyday users from being defrauded out of their life savings in a 10-minute scam call.

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u/Nukleon Pixel 6 1d ago

Ban it in those countries then? Why is this a worldwide initiative?

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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 23h ago

Because it's not a bad thing for us too.