Google is enhancing Android's app security by requiring developer verification and is developing a new flow that allows experienced users to sideload unverified apps at their own risk, with safeguards against coercion and clear warnings, aiming to balance security with user choice.
Google is ending the era of unrestricted sideloading on Android devices by requiring developer verification to enhance security, aligning Android more closely with iOS, and reducing malware risks, though it may impact users who enjoy installing apps from unverified sources.
Google will soon restrict sideloading on Android devices by requiring developer verification to enhance security, aligning Android more closely with iOS. This change aims to reduce malware from unverified sources but will limit the ability to install apps from outside the Google Play Store, marking the end of one of Android's last major differences from iOS.
The article discusses Google's upcoming requirement for Android developers to register and verify their identity, which will restrict sideloading of apps from unknown sources, effectively turning Android into a more closed platform similar to iOS, and raising concerns about the loss of the open, customizable nature of smartphones.
Google is set to require developer verification, including ID verification, for all Android apps, including sideloaded ones, starting in 2025-2027, aiming to enhance security but potentially limiting open-source and hobbyist development.
Google is implementing a new 'Developer Verification' system to verify all Android developers, aiming to reduce malware from sideloaded apps outside Google Play. The program will start in October 2023 for early access, become mandatory in 2026 for certain countries, and globally in 2027, primarily affecting certified devices from major manufacturers. Non-certified devices will not be subject to these restrictions.
Google will require all Android app developers to register with a paid Developer Console account, extending verification beyond the Play Store to all sideloaded apps starting in 2026-2027, citing security concerns due to malware from unverified sources. This move aims to enhance security but has raised concerns among developers about increased restrictions and reduced flexibility, making Android more like iOS in terms of app installation.
Google is implementing new security measures requiring Android developers distributing apps outside the Play Store to verify their identities, starting in select countries in September 2024 and expanding globally by 2027, to enhance security and prevent malicious apps.
Google will verify all Android app developers in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand starting September 2026 to enhance security and prevent malicious apps, with phased invitations beginning October 2025. This move aims to increase accountability, reduce impersonation, and protect users from malware, especially from third-party app stores, while maintaining user choice and preparing for potential Play Store reforms.
Google will require all Android app developers, including those outside the Play Store, to verify their identities starting in 2026 to enhance security and reduce malware, affecting the global Android ecosystem with phased rollouts and special provisions for hobbyist developers.