Installing an Android application outside of the Play Store will remain possible. But from August, the operation will become significantly more complex. Google has indeed inaugurated an “advanced course” intended for informed users. To install an application from an unverified developer, you will first need to activate developer mode, a procedure rarely used by the general public.
Sideloading still possible but under conditions
The user will then have to confirm that they are not being guided by a third party, a direct response to scams where victims are “coached” over the phone to bypass protections. The process continues with a complete reboot of the smartphone, which is supposed to interrupt any remote access attempts. But the most significant stage remains the obligatory wait of… 24 hours! Google speaks of a “ protective waiting period » intended to break the artificial emergency situations used by scammers.
Once this period has expired, the user will still have to authenticate via biometrics or code. Only after all these steps can you finally install the application, for a limited period of seven days or permanently. On paper, Google insists: a platform can be open, but it must also be secure. In practice, it is difficult not to see this succession of steps as a particularly dissuasive filter.
However, it is undeniable that scams are increasing. According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance, more than one in two adults encountered an attempted scam last year, with global losses estimated at $442 billion. Google is particularly targeting attacks based on social engineering, where fraudsters manipulate their victims into installing malicious applications. The 24-hour deadline is intended precisely to break this sense of urgency.
The company nevertheless claims to want to preserve the openness of its platform. Limited distribution accounts will be offered to students and amateur developers, who will be able to share an application with up to 20 devices without cumbersome procedures or extensive identity verification. At the same time, Google continues to tighten requirements for developers on the Play Store, with stricter verification procedures. Officially, it is not a question of locking the ecosystem, but of “empowering” the players.
Sideloading is part of Android’s DNA. By making this mechanism more restrictive, Google is profoundly changing the user experience. All of this will have a direct impact on alternative stores and independent developers. The parallel ecosystem, which houses both original initiatives and fraudulent practices, risks contracting. Google is aware of this. Internally, the group recognizes that certain measures, such as the 24-hour deadline, also serve to test what users are prepared to accept.
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