Google will block sideloading of unverified Android apps starting next year
Google says it’s no different than checking IDs at the airport.
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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/
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
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.
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.
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.
