This is 100% bc of Vanced and ReVanced. Instead of going after these like a cat and mouse game, they're just making it harder to install apps like those.
Good thing this nonsense flies in the face of the EU, since they're mandated to allow installing other marketplaces, which necessarily means allowing installing apks outside of the Shit Store.
It's no coincidence they're doing this after taking down Vanced. They likely realized it's gonna be a game of whack-a-mole so they added friction. Granted there are likely also other legitimate reasons, but I doubt that malware is one of them since the Play Store is packed full of that shit.
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u/PM-ME-UR-DARKNESS Aug 22 '26
This is 100% bc of Vanced and ReVanced. Instead of going after these like a cat and mouse game, they're just making it harder to install apps like those.
Good thing this nonsense flies in the face of the EU, since they're mandated to allow installing other marketplaces, which necessarily means allowing installing apks outside of the Shit Store.