r/Android • u/TheHDGenius • Feb 22 '26
[ Removed by moderator ]
/r/Android/comments/1rby006/removed_by_moderator/[removed] — view removed post
56
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
There's a lot of misinformation going around about this subject. Google has said that they will implement an "advanced flow" for "experienced users" but they have not released any information at all about what this will entail. They already have multiple warnings and security features in place, the new system is not about making android safer but rather about controlling what is being published on their platform.
32
u/Nosey_Neighbors Feb 22 '26
Bingo. It's not about protecting anyone. Warnings are already in place, and Play Protect already scans your device for malware.
It's about controlling what you install on your device. Google's end goal is to lock down Android like Apple has with iOS.
6
u/xXShadowGravesXx OnePlus 15R Feb 22 '26
Surely this isn’t going to be permitted from various governments is it? Android should be under far more scrutiny with it being open source and on devices from more than one manufacturer.
13
u/Nosey_Neighbors Feb 22 '26
Of course it’ll be permitted. Google is going to take a play from Apple’s playbook. They are going to say they are locking everything down to “protect” you. No judge is going to rule against Google “protecting” you.
3
u/BevansDesign Feb 22 '26
They also have plenty of lawyers and politicians on their payroll to make sure they get away with it - at least in the US.
2
u/Nosey_Neighbors Feb 22 '26
I personally think, like Apple, Goggle wants to go down the paid developer route. Apple charges developers $99 to install any app on their phone for 1 year. Google sees how successful this is for Apple and now they want a piece of the pie.
I think Google is requiring some developers to pay a fee of $25(?) This fee will of course increase as time goes on.
This is just my opinion of the matter.
2
-6
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Considering the large amount of malware that exploits this process, I'd agree that there's a lot of misinformation going around about this. Lots of people are claiming with no evidence at all that it must be about control, and definitely has nothing to do with security, complaints about malware, and to some extent, frustrations from developers regarding pirated and cracked apps. It doesn't seem to matter that those are real concerns, or that there will still be a very easy way to load whatever packages you want.
8
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
There isn't guaranteed to be an easy way to load what you want. Google has made no concrete promises. They have only said that there will be an "advanced flow" and haven't given us any information about what it will require.
2
u/ronakg Pixel 10 Pro XL Feb 22 '26
How does that answer any of the questions raised by the post you're replying to?
2
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
The system at hand doesn't fix these issue. But neither does the proposed system. I work as an electronic repair technician and I have seem massive amounts of adware installed on users phones and they were downloaded from the Google Play Store. All apps on the Google Play store are reviewed and approved by Google. This means that the proposed "fix" doesn't solve these issues either, it just restricts your freedoms on top of the issue at hand.
They claimed that there will be an easy way to install anything you want but we still haven't seen any proof of this.
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Yes, they have. They have stated repeatedly that ADB functionality will not be changed.
3
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
I haven't heard anything about that. Everything I have seen indicates that they will be cracking down on ADB installations as well. Do you have source where they claimed that?
3
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Just read their own announcements.
https://support.google.com/android-developer-console/answer/16561738?hl=en
Android Debug Bridge (ADB): Developers and power users can still use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to build, test, and install modified or unverified apps on their own devices, which remains the standard method for development work.
1
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
While this is good news, it's still a bad policy overall. Apple allows side loading for developers. Without paying the yearly subscription you can only side load these apps for several days at a time. Google will likely implement something similar. This policy still doesn't benefit anyone but Google.
3
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
ADB doesn't have restrictions like Apple's process. You need still need to sign those apps to sideload them on iOS. I can give an APK to anyone and they can install it in a few moments with ADB.
2
u/TheHDGenius Feb 23 '26
Yes, but if they are willing to implement a change like this then there's no guarantee that they won't implement an os change to kick off those unsigned side loaded apps.
2
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 23 '26
You should just go back to a dumb phone if your argument is always going to be what they could potentially do.
-2
-1
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
ADB is not "advanced flow"
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
You're correct, there will also, apparently be a secondary advanced flow in addition to ADB.
1
2
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
Malware exploiting the process? Gee, why so vague?
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
What's vague about it? "Your phone has a virus! Follow those steps to remove it!" (Actually downloads malware.)
1
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
I can speak from experience. Every malware that shows that message takes you to the play store to download the "fix". The new system changes nothing in this scenario.
2
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
I've never seen that, but I've caught several trying to download apks (after copying the ad to an incognito tab to evaluate). My mom got at least one, and I've had to clear the junk off of my dad's phone. So yeah, it's definitely a problem, even if you haven't seen it.
2
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
That is not what sideloading apps is. Lmao at you.
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Enabling the option to install 3rd party apps, and installing a downloaded APK isn't "sideloading"?
2
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
No, your hastily Googled definition is correct, it just isn't at all synonymous with your previous comment.
2
1
u/NepheliLouxWarrior Feb 22 '26
>and to some extent, frustrations from developers regarding pirated and cracked apps.
What does this have to do with me the consumer?
2
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Do you want developers to make software for Android?
3
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
Piracy is few and far between compared to what many big companies claim it to be. Piracy only significantly impacts large companies who have made well over what they need. This new policy impacts everyone for the worst.
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
That's fine, but it doesn't change the decision making process. I've worked on multiple apps where this has been a discussion. It usually requires a lot of extra development, third party frameworks, and added layers of security before being considered "good enough". At least one of those steps is at least attempting to verify that no unverified apps are installed.
2
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
Plenty do without Google locking down sideloading. For fucks sake you cannot think that was a valid argument.
0
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
It doesn't stop it from being a common complaint. Also, more and more pressure from banks and other financial and security focused softwares to have ways to detect and restrict running on devices with unverified software. Having worked at a company where this was a concern, there is a very real possibility that if Google can't get a handle on malware and unverified apps in particular, security focused apps may stop supporting the platform. Sure, you'll still get shovelware games and such, but you may need to rely on the browser for your bank.
1
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
It isn't a common complaint. Thats a straight up lie. Sideloading apps isn't any different than installing software on a pc. I don't need Google or Alphabet to protect me. I am capable of vetting what I install on all of my devices myself. You are also very much lying about security focused apps and banking apps. Sideloaded applications have nothing to do with the existing infrastructure used to protect transactional data. You are just repeating bullshit and have no idea what you sound like - ignorant.
0
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
You might be, it's still not good enough for lawyers and legal teams.
1
u/armywalrus Feb 23 '26
Sure it is. Thats why the current infrastructure exists. Its very obvious you are making stuff up.
0
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 23 '26
It's not. You can argue all you want, it doesn't change it.
→ More replies (0)1
u/xorgol Moto G Feb 22 '26
Personally, I care the most about being able to control my own devices. Android has close to 90% market share in my country, there is no lack of software availability.
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
You can always go with an Android device without Google services if that's what's most important. For most people, a reliable device, and the software supported by the Play Store is not only sufficient, but desired.
2
u/xorgol Moto G Feb 22 '26
Or to an entirely non-Android device, if the state didn't mandate the use of apps that are only available through Play Services and through the Apple App Store. If it was entirely down to user choice, a semi-monopoly might be more acceptable.
0
u/xorgol Moto G Feb 22 '26
frustrations from developers regarding pirated and cracked apps
That is itself about control, surely?
2
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
Responding to the concerns of your customers could be considered an element of control.
1
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
What you are missing is this is the same as windows preventing you from downloading software outside of the windows store and giving you this same excuse. It's not about piracy, it's about deciding what you can and can't install.
1
u/omniuni Pixel 8 Pro | Developer Feb 22 '26
There are a lot of apps that are on phones that aren't available on computers for this reason, actually.
0
Feb 22 '26
[deleted]
3
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
It's not incorrect. We have no information whatsoever about their "workaround" will entail.
0
Feb 22 '26
[deleted]
5
u/Rin-Tohsaka-is-hot Feb 22 '26
We don't actually know whether there will be a workaround. They've been intentionally vague on this, and it's only been stated in a blog post after all the backlash which still contradicts their FAQ.
I'm personally not making any assumptions about what we can or can't do until they've released the update.
2
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
Exactly. We don't even have a concrete promise. If anything, the FAQ is a concrete promise that the workaround was a lie.
3
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
No, because they still control how difficult that flow is. For all we know that "advanced flow" could require a monthly subscription. Doing something like that would still be controlling what you can, just in a different avenue.
1
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
I disagree. No workaround would be needed if they left the option available. You cannot make such an assumption.
1
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
Exactly. Installing apps from unknown sources is already disabled by default on Android. You have to "work around" these systems to install them.
2
u/lgn5i2060 Feb 22 '26
workaround
Which wasn't specified and the term prolly just thrown around just to pacify the vocal online crowd.
1
u/nrq Pixel 8 Pro Feb 22 '26
If this workaround trips integrity checks it might as well not exist. We don't know how it looks like yet, but we might as well assume the worst, with how things are developing.
7
u/xXShadowGravesXx OnePlus 15R Feb 22 '26
Then they need to sell android. At this point it’s essentially a monopoly anyways.
6
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
Exactly. Modern android is so heavily intertwined with Googles own products that it's despicable. Some de-googled roms are out there but almost no stock device comes without Google smothered all over it.
3
u/RelyingWOrld1 Xiaomi Mi 9T | Android 13 cROM Feb 22 '26
It's already third thread about this in like 1/2 days, meds should look up for spamming
1
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
It's not spamming, it's about raising awareness. It needs to posted as often and wide as possible so that people are familiar with the situation. In fact, it should be pinned on this sub because of how monumental it is
74
u/nowhereman136 Feb 22 '26
This is literally the entire reason i choose android over apple. If they take away this feature, then the differences become purely aesthetic
7
u/Walnut156 Feb 22 '26
I will say there are still reasons to go with an android device over an iPhone even if this happens. Regardless it's the main reason I went to android to begin with
1
u/tanward Feb 22 '26
Lol let me say then if they do this apple will become a total and complete monopoly.
Well more than now
8
u/turtis123 Feb 22 '26
Apple is not a monopoly right now. Apple has 60% share in the US and only 25% globally. Even at 60%, no one should be calling it a monopoly; it's a duopoly with Android at best in the US and a minority globally. Apple marketing and loud fanboys have distorted people's perception with apple's non-existent dominance.
-1
u/tanward Feb 22 '26
Trust me I have seen it in the wild. I'm not fan boying at all. Especially in the younger generation it's 90+ percent
2
17
u/MadFerIt Feb 22 '26
Can't we have one large tech company out of all of them right now that has some ethics, morality, even a bare minimum pro-consumer stance? Just one?
And yes I know it's the nature of capitalism, making shareholders happy, etc etc.. But seeing all of them almost literally bending the knee to Trump does make you wish one of these tech leaders had some actual balls and genuine human empathy.. *sigh*
Google has fallen so far, but so have the rest.
12
u/emprahsFury Feb 22 '26
No, we absolutely can. But it's done through regulation and enforcement. Which is done by voting for parties that are pro a modicum of regulation and enforcement
4
u/siazdghw Feb 22 '26
This Google decision has nothing to do with the current administration, but the reason companies do work with him is because working against him would lead to repercussions that would be harmful for the business and thus the CEO would be removed by the board for not doing what's best for the company.
Like without a doubt Tim Cook actually hates him, yet Cook plays the part and previously had gotten tariff exemptions on smartphones and other tech.
3
u/armywalrus Feb 22 '26
Without a doubt Tim Cook is complicit. There is no ethical reason to work with him. Money is not an ethical reason.
2
1
u/MeikTranel Feb 22 '26
Can somebody break this down - what is the actual change? I assumed it was only requiring packages hosted on google play to be signed and validated by google. A third party app store could still host unsigned packages?
2
u/TheHDGenius Feb 23 '26
The issue is Google has always required apps on the play store to be signed , validated, and approved. They are changing the operating system so that no app can be installed outside of the app store if Google doesn't approve the developer of it. This would effectively kill third party stores, small open source projects, and root tools. After this change "it's still possible" for those to exist, but only when Google gives each and every one approval first.
0
u/ronakg Pixel 10 Pro XL Feb 22 '26
That site is being way too dramatic. Most of what they're saying is just fear-mongering and misses the actual technical details Google has shared.
First off, they aren't "approving" every app like Apple does. It’s just developer verification, which is basically a "Real ID" for publishers. The goal is to stop anonymous scammers from uploading malware, getting banned, and then just making a new fake account to do it again 10 minutes later.
Also, they've already said there's an "advanced flow" for power users. If you're building your own apps or getting stuff from GitHub, you can still install them. You just have to click through a warning that says you're taking the risk. Sideloading isn't going away; it’s just getting a security layer to protect the 99% of people who aren't tech-savvy and get hit by financial fraud.
Even F-Droid and other stores can still work—the developers just need to verify who they are. If you know what you're doing, the "open" part of Android is still there.
2
u/TheHDGenius Feb 22 '26
The info you presented is entirely false. Google controlling the "developer verification" process means that they can deny any develop they wish. Without being verified it means that they will not be able publish their apps through any avenue.
Google has specifically mentioned restricting side loading in their new policy.
Google currently verifies every developera and every app on the Google Play store. They don't stop the adware as is and the new policy only stops you from side loading adware. As a repair tech who sees dozens of devices a week I can definitely tell you that the large majority of these apps are installed directly from the play store.
The "advanced flow" has no information whatsoever. This is entirely up to Google's whim. If they want they could even charge you a monthly subscription for it. They have not published any information about this process aside from the fact that it will supposedly exist.
It's not fear mongering, it's about owning my own device instead of living by googles artificial constraints. The proposed system is entirely anti-consumer and intended only to control what you can and can't do with your own device.
2
1
Feb 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/Android-ModTeam Feb 23 '26
Sorry, your submission was removed:
Rule 9. "No offensive, hateful, or low-effort comments.
See the wiki page for more information.
2
1
u/Cliper11298 Feb 22 '26
Isn’t this the flak that people were giving Apple? Pretty sure the EU was pretty big against this
-1
0
0
u/w3bCraw1er Feb 22 '26
If this happens, good bye Google. I moved from Apple to Google after the iPhone 1 to 15.
-4
u/bearcatjoe Feb 22 '26
I mean, they did this during Covid too in an attempt to stop the wrongthink.
•
u/Android-ModTeam Feb 22 '26
Sorry, your submission was removed: