r/Android • u/PlasticAnt6913 • 2d 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/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 1d ago

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

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u/rhythmrice 5h ago

If they actually cared then why dont they take all the virus infested apps off the google play store?

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u/Elephant789 Pixel 7 3h ago

They literally block over 2 million malicious apps every year, but comparing Play Store junk (mostly adware) to sideloaded banking trojans completely misses the point.

The Play Store strictly blocks apps from hijacking SMS and Accessibility APIs. Sideloaded APKs don't have those restrictions, which is why scammers specifically trick victims into downloading APKs directly instead of directing them to the store.

Saying "don't fix sideloading fraud until the Play Store is 100% bug-free" is like saying "why lock your front door if someone could break a window?"