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Android apps are blocking sideloading and forcing Google Play versions instead (arstechnica.com)

submitted 10 months ago by lemmee_in@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.world

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You might sideload an Android app, or manually install its APK package, if you're using a custom version of Android that doesn't include Google's Play Store. Alternately, the app might be experimental, under development, or perhaps no longer maintained and offered by its developer. Until now, the existence of sideload-ready APKs on the web was something that seemed to be tolerated, if warned against, by Google.

This quiet standstill is being shaken up by a new feature in Google's Play Integrity API. As reported by Android Authority, developer tools to push "remediation" dialogs during sideloading debuted at Google's I/O conference in May, have begun showing up on users' phones. Sideloaders of apps from the British shop Tesco, fandom app BeyBlade X, and ChatGPT have reported "Get this app from Play" prompts, which cannot be worked around. An Android gaming handheld user encountered a similarly worded prompt from Diablo Immortal on their device three months ago.

Google's Play Integrity API is how apps have previously blocked access when loaded onto phones that are in some way modified from a stock OS with all Google Play integrations intact. Recently, a popular two-factor authentication app blocked access on rooted phones, including the security-minded GrapheneOS. Apps can call the Play Integrity API and get back an "integrity verdict," relaying if the phone has a "trustworthy" software environment, has Google Play Protect enabled, and passes other software checks.

Graphene has questioned the veracity of Google's Integrity API and SafetyNet Attestation systems, recommending instead standard Android hardware attestation. Rahman notes that apps do not have to take an all-or-nothing approach to integrity checking. Rather than block installation entirely, apps could call on the API only during sensitive actions, issuing a warning there. But not having a Play Store connection can also deprive developers of metrics, allow for installation on incompatible devices (and resulting bad reviews), and, of course, open the door to paid app piracy.

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[-] koncertejo@lemmy.ml 277 points 10 months ago

If the Play Store becomes required like that then Android's already-shaky status as an open source base platform is going to go out the window. I'm glad there are non-Google distros of Android but there really needs to be more of a push to make a completely FOSS phone platform.

[-] IllNess@infosec.pub 73 points 10 months ago

There are Linux phones available. I,m going to guess popularity of those devices to increase soon.

[-] SnotFlickerman 56 points 10 months ago

That was the hope with Android, too.

The problem is that as the OS is "free" that means it costs less functionally for the device manufacturer to get an OS on the device, so now they can pour more money into bloatware.

Android was supposed to stop bloatware but all it did was enable it.

Even without a forced "store" Linux is prey to the same issue of piecemeal support from various vendors all with in-house solutions that all stink.

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[-] vikingtons@lemmy.world 38 points 10 months ago

As much as I want that to be the case, I don't think full mobile gnu+Linux is really ready to use daily?

I haven't exactly been keeping up with things, mind you

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[-] MrLLM@ani.social 21 points 10 months ago

I,m going to guess popularity of those devices to increase soon.

I don’t want to be pessimistic about it, however I think it’s gonna be like Windows: enshittification will happen, but inconvenience is “too small” for people that they’ll rather check for a workaround than leave the platform.

My guess is that we need something more appealing like the Steam Deck to make people take the step.

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[-] AceFuzzLord@lemm.ee 19 points 10 months ago

Sadly the only people who would switch over to an actual Linux phone would be the people like the stereotypical Linux using Lemmy user. The average android user would just continue on like nothing happened because they're not tech literate enough to know what's going on or why they should care.

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[-] whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world 26 points 10 months ago

The more I think about it, this may finally convince me to...shudders...switch to an iPhone. I've always stayed on Android because despite the recent Google bullshit, it still for the most part lets me do whatever. Side-loading apks is a huge part of that.

If it's turning into a shittier iOS clone, what's the point?

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 17 points 10 months ago

Don't do IOS, it's such a pain. It took us 2 days to figure out how to play an audio book file that I was able to download an F-droid app for and play in like 3 minutes.

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[-] bad_alloc@lemmy.dbzer0.com 143 points 10 months ago

Just the term "side loading" instantly frames installing software on a device you own as something shady.

[-] SlothMama@lemmy.world 67 points 10 months ago

Yes, that's the implication, and it's certainly intentional for you to think of it like that.

[-] doctortran@lemm.ee 52 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The fact that an entire generation thinks the only proper way to install software is through an app store is absolutely terrible. Talk about a boon for the gatekeepers, Apple and Google did a bang up job training them to trust no one else.

[-] quant@leminal.space 18 points 10 months ago

Schools and universities in principle should be the place where they're introduced to what really means to own a computer. The trend however seems to give out everyone a locked down e-waste with proprietary restrictions all over the place.

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[-] xavier666@lemm.ee 19 points 9 months ago

"side-loading" is literally the norm on Windows and Linux

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[-] T156@lemmy.world 130 points 10 months ago

What is a "trustworthy software environment"?

Does that mean that it will get mad and fail you for having Developer options enabled? Having F-Droid installed? Having it plugged into a computer?

[-] whats_all_this_then@lemmy.world 63 points 10 months ago

There's a bank here that refuses to let you log into their app if you have developer options enabled. Their service was getting much better until that point, but I dropped them completely after that.

I use developer options to get better screen density on my large ass screen, and to you know...develop apps 🤷‍♂️

FUCK THESE ASSHOLES WHO THINK THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO WITH MY PHONE

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[-] FierySpectre@lemmy.world 28 points 10 months ago

According to the dumbfucks making the government application of Belgium (to read official communication) trustworthy means having developer mode disabled.

[-] heavy@sh.itjust.works 107 points 10 months ago

Androids best advantage used to be full control of the device... Those were the days. Then it started with saying they know better than you, then locking you out. Now I'm waiting on a new, better solution.

Honestly it's not like native Linux is too far fetched, but there would have to be a big open source common ground device collaboration.

[-] EddoWagt@feddit.nl 31 points 10 months ago

Man I really hate how they stripped your permissions to access the internal and external storage, files can no longer access data from other apps even if you say allow all file access. Also if your phone supports SD cards, you might notice that you don't have write access to it for some reason on later versions of android. (I really struggled with this with my Galaxy S9 on Lineage), had to use apps that remounted my SD card and what not

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[-] darth_tiktaalik@lemmy.ml 57 points 10 months ago

Google and Apple have come out against legislation that would broaden sideloading rights for smartphone owners, citing security and reliability concerns.

Fuck off google.

[-] hogmomma@lemmy.world 19 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

...as I upvote you from my Pixel. ☹️ I give the sad face because Google isn't who they once were and I'm just going to have to deal with that.

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[-] subignition@piefed.social 51 points 10 months ago

It's not like dedicated people aren't going to be able to just patch out the calls to this API from the apps themselves...

This feels like yet another attempt at DRM that is doing more harm than help.

[-] Peruvian_Skies@sh.itjust.works 22 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

You mean like literally every single attempt at DRM since the Big Bang?

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[-] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 50 points 10 months ago

the google store environment is such a pain, at work we have android based Zebra barcode readers... today when I was sideloading our app one of the devices kept uninstalling it because of google play... what a fucking pain in the ass

only when intune fully took it over did it stop...

DONT MAKE ME LIKE INTUNE GOOGLE.... JFK

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[-] eleitl@lemm.ee 45 points 10 months ago

I get most of my stuff via F-Droid or I could use Obtainium. My tablet is Google-free. This sounds like my phone should be Google-free as well.

[-] loutr@sh.itjust.works 19 points 10 months ago

Yeah but banking apps are starting to check integritynet, and (in France, at least) they're pretty much mandatory to do anything useful with your bank account/credit card online... I think Uber does too, I boycott them but others might follow suit...

Currently running lineageos, but I think I'll just give up and go for a Pixel for my next phone... Sucks to let google win but I like to do useful things with my phone...

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[-] DudeImMacGyver@sh.itjust.works 42 points 10 months ago

Haha, gross: We can't control the devices we own.

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[-] Snapz@lemmy.world 36 points 10 months ago

Was always inching closer, but looks like android has fully outstayed its welcome. The revolving door of executives hit its last person with any integrity on the ass on their way out the door.

[-] FireWire400@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago

They’re still pissed that people won’t put up with their shitty YouTube app and use Revanced instead, eh?

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[-] vext01@lemmy.sdf.org 28 points 10 months ago

I have an android DAP (music player) that runs Android 7. It's a box with a headphone jack (remember those?) and it's sole purpose is to play offline music from an SD card.

I side-loaded a few music players, because there's no way I'm putting my Google password in android 7 in 2024.

I'd be upset if I couldn't side load. These DAPs never have an up to date android.

Let's hope the music apps I use don't block sideloading.

Poweramp won't. Musicolet?

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[-] 5cr33ch3r@lemmy.ml 27 points 9 months ago

The only reason I'm still sticking with Android is the ability to sideload

I have no reason to use an android if this is the road Google wants to follow and expect my next phone to be an iPhone SE

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[-] tabular@lemmy.world 25 points 10 months ago

Google Pain Services. Google Pisses Itself API.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 25 points 10 months ago

I just won't use any apps that do this. Simple.

[-] QuadratureSurfer@lemmy.world 27 points 10 months ago

Good luck when banking apps start doing this.

[-] Chozo@fedia.io 37 points 10 months ago

I'll be real, I wouldn't trust a banking app from any third-party storefront to begin with. That's the sort of app I'd really want to be properly vetted and secured.

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[-] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 23 points 10 months ago

Do we really need banking apps? Fuck it I'll use their website.

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[-] mitrosus@discuss.tchncs.de 21 points 10 months ago

Long live custom degoogled ROM.

[-] ray1992xd@lemmy.world 20 points 9 months ago

The EU is going to be furious about this

[-] pumpkinseedoil@sh.itjust.works 19 points 9 months ago

I hope so. I don't want Android to become the new Apple

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[-] cm0002@lemmy.world 19 points 10 months ago

which cannot be worked around.

Well, at least not without root lol

Root detecting apps to Side loading detecting apps:

First time?

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[-] Cris_Color@lemmy.world 18 points 10 months ago

Well that fucking sucks

[-] eddeeMN@poweredbygay.social 18 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

The whole point of #Android is the ability to control your device without #Apple, or #Google, or anyone else dictating your apps and content.

@lemmee_in @android

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this post was submitted on 11 Sep 2024

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