Jay5d ago

This article more eloquently phrases how I feel about the new #android #sideloading rules: https://www.androidauthority.com/i-dont-recognize-android-i-fell-in-love-with-3650462/ I pretty much agree with everything that this journalist is saying.

The new rules might cause some friction -- but they generally make Android safer for everyone.

And that's always a good thing.

#googleandroid #androidsecurity

I don't recognize the Android I fell in love with anymore

Android has shifted under our eyes over the last 18 years, from open and free to dozens of obstacles and restrictions. Was it a victim of its own success?

Android Authority
Show threadnovember 🀄 in my mahjong era5d ago

@r3spawndbae Sorry, but how do they make it safer?

F-droid vets all the apps they serve to make sure they do what they say. Meanwhile the Google Play store is full of apps that spy on you and track you, and there's no way an actual human is checking each and every app in there.

Not to mention that having to give your personal information to Google makes *no one* safe.

Anyone can make apps for Linux or Windows -- is it "unsafe" to use them? Or do we trust users to do their due diligence?

Show threadJay5d ago

@november by making it harder to do, every extra step gives the person installing a chance to pause and think about what they’re doing.

I don’t know Google’s thinking, obviously, but to me it feels like they just wanted to add some friction so it’s not just a mindless “click… click… done” installation of potentially dangerous or suspicious apps, while still respecting people’s choices.

The new policy doesn’t stop you; it just makes it harder, so you CHOOSE do it for apps your're sure about.

Show threadnovember 🀄 in my mahjong era5d ago
@r3spawndbae Sure, but if you think about where a malicious app is likely to come from, what seems more likely: An ad-ridden piece of crap in the Play Store, or something from a Git page where you can see all the code yourself? When I think of people mindlessly clicking, the former is what comes to mind, not the latter. You have to actually research if you want to sideload apps.
Show threadJay5d ago

@november this is a very good point you make actually, and one that I honestly wasn't considering.

Fair made.

As we have seen apps from the Play Store be used maliciously. I think I was assuming that Play Protect would now offer protection against those kinds of apps.

Maybe I was wrong though.

Show threadnovember 🀄 in my mahjong era
@r3spawndbae Hope I wasn't too much of a jerk about it. I've been stressed and this topic's important to me.
Mar 22 at 11:19pmWeb
Show threadJay4d ago
@november nah it's all good. I genuinely didn't consider that because I was asking that the issue of iffy apps from the Play Store was fixed with Play Protect.