this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2026

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420

Google gives Android users a way to install unverified apps if they worked hard for it(including waiting 24 hours) (android-developers.googleblog.com)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Beep@lemmus.org to c/technology@lemmy.world

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Lobsters;
Hacker News.

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[–] darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 135 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Okay but, installing an apk is not the kind of thing a scammer does. They'll just install some standard off the shelf remote access software from the play store

This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process and opted for scammers for some reason. Even though they're completely disconnected

[–] cecilkorik@piefed.ca 74 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This very much feels like they just needed to come up with a new justification for this process

It feels that way because that's exactly what happened.

[–] darkevilmac@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I was hoping for at least something slightly believable, someone let Gemini write the justification I guess

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[–] smeg@infosec.pub 88 points 1 month ago (13 children)

enable developer options
confirm that you are not tricked
restart phone and re-authenticate
wait one day
confirm with biometrics that you know what you are doing
decide if you only want unrestricted installs for 1 week or forever
confirm that you accept the risks
enjoy the few apps that still have developers motivated to develop for a user-base willing to put up with this

[–] Squizzy@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Is this for all android systems because it is a huge rug pull if so

[–] AHemlocksLie@lemmy.zip 22 points 1 month ago

Pretty sure it's a change to AOSP, the basis for every single Android ROM in existence.

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[–] Ganbat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 72 points 1 month ago (1 children)

In addition to the advanced flow we’re building free, limited distribution accounts for students and hobbyists. This allows you to share apps with a small group (up to 20 devices) without needing to provide a government-issued ID or pay a registration fee.

Fuck you sideways, Google.

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

What? ID?

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They want developers to share their IDs to have their apps on the play store. The limited groups is so hobbyist developers can still share apps without having to jump through those hoops and so the users don't need to go and enable sideloading, with the caveat that there's a call on how many users you can send it to it looks like.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (7 children)

That's already the case. The new thing is that they want developers to share their ID to have their apps be installable on Android in the first place, even if they don't use the Play Store.

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[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 71 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And again, confirming that my current phone will be the last android device I own.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 26 points 1 month ago (15 children)

What will you use instead though?

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 57 points 1 month ago (8 children)

At this stage, I'm thinking one of the Motorola phones that will run Graphene out of the box.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 38 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Isn't that Android?

[–] riptide@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago

I believe it’s a fork of android that is not managed by Google

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 14 points 1 month ago (8 children)

It's an Android fork that has been degoogled

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[–] Zetta@mander.xyz 12 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I use graphene on a pixel. Graphene is Android, albeit a much better version of Android.

[–] ada@piefed.blahaj.zone 11 points 1 month ago

I don't care whether it's technically android or not, I care that it's not a tool to let google in to my life.

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[–] tabular@lemmy.world 15 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Linux phone, landline, or tin can and string.

[–] toiletobserver@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Another option, an ESP32 radio. Surprisingly large mesh network in the greater Seattle area.

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[–] kbal@fedia.io 51 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Just think of all the other things that could benefit from a "protective waiting period" to enhance your safety.

Turning off location tracking, using a web browser other than Chrome, using a mail server other than Gmail, visiting duckduckgo.com — if Google really cared about your privacy and security they'd add a 24-hour delay to all these dangerous activities.

[–] zerofk@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 month ago

Downloading Linux? Mandatory psych evaluation. For your protection.

[–] eager_eagle@lemmy.world 49 points 1 month ago

[–] shrek_is_love@lemmy.ml 43 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They think this will take some of the heat off of them. Hopefully no one actually thinks this is a reasonable compromise. If I want to help an elderly family member install something on their phone during Thanksgiving dinner or a family reunion, I'm not gonna want to wait a day. Uncle Paul's flying back to Florida tomorrow morning!

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[–] gary_d@lemmy.world 41 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I imagine that the demand for linux phones will only grow.

[–] QuandaleDingle@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago

THE PENGUINS MUST GROW

[–] Yaky@slrpnk.net 25 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Who are these smooth-talking scammers that can guide a regular-ass user to jump through hoops in settings to install a malicious app?

Maybe I should ask them how they do it, because I cannot convince my family to download and use Signal. You know, the legit app from the official app store.

[–] goldman60@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago (2 children)

People who can't operate a computer will somehow become gods at following instructions if someone calls "from Microsoft"

[–] d00ery@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Yes exactly this. I try and explain a computer thing to someone and get ignored. That same person talks to some sales rep in the electronics store and comes away "ohh they said I need to buy super expensive antivirus, that'll solve my issue with my screen resolution being too low". 🤦

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[–] Fedditor385@lemmy.world 24 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Can we prevent this on the EU level? It really is just killing independent competition.

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[–] kalapala@sopuli.xyz 17 points 1 month ago

Rental devices tend to be bad investments for the individuals.

[–] MountainMan@lemmy.zip 13 points 1 month ago

They will just redefine what 24h means!

Don't think for a second that these companies are working in good faith, and would change their evil plans due to some pushback from the rabble. They will just find ways to circumvent things. They have everyone by the nads, there are no competitors.

[–] shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 month ago (6 children)

This would not have affected me since I use Lineage OS without Google Play Services, but I am now more seriously than ever looking into using a Linux phone like Postmarket OS.

[–] fluxx@mander.xyz 15 points 1 month ago

It would affect a lot of users, then it will indirectly affect you too, as a lot of devs won't be as interested in maintaining their apps for so few users. But I hope it will at least give a bit of a push to developing postmarket os. I personally am sure going to get a second hand phone to install postmarketos too and hope I can contribute at least a little bit. I am prepared to suffer, at least a little bit for the right cause.

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[–] TotalCourage007@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I'm just going to eradicate Google once SteamOS supports mobile devices. Fucking control freak douchebags.

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[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 8 points 1 month ago

Why is it called developer mode if it's supposedly an advanced flow? That has a bad implication.

[–] tidderuuf@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

I hate how much more difficult my work or life has to be because some people shouldn't have a smartphone.

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