this post was submitted on 26 Aug 2025
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Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year (arstechnica.com)
submitted 17 hours ago by themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] Cheradenine@sh.itjust.works 138 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (2 children)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch

Malware-ridden apps made it into Google's Play Store, scored 19 million downloads

https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/26/apps_android_malware/

[–] generator@lemmy.zip 72 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Right, only install "verified" from Google Play, but that is where malware is, other 3rd party app stores like F-Droid, that really verify apps are at risk of getting killed by Google

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 80 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

This is very obviously step one in a plan to kill apps like alternative YouTube clients that block ads, just like the Manifest V3 rollout was intended to kill ad blockers in Chrome. Once they have everyone using this verification system, then they can just arbitrarily deverify anything that contravenes whatever new acceptable usage policy they just made up.

[–] generator@lemmy.zip 21 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago)

The opensource apps like Newpipe, SmartTube, termux and many others are the "malware", not the ones with binary blobs on PlayStore that fork VLC, Newpipe and many opensource apps illegally, supposedly "verified" but don't follow opensource license like GPL, creating fake clones with ads and (real) malware.

https://itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/81652-google-ignores-licence-violating-clones-of-vlc.html

[–] ItsComplicated@sh.itjust.works 28 points 17 hours ago

Google can't keep malware off the platform now, but sure, make it mandatory you can't go anywhere else unless they say so first.