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I don't think Aptoide is distributed through the google play store as google doesn't allow app stores in there so if the user installed it manually to their sys

I don't think Aptoide is distributed through the google play store as google doesn't allow app stores in there so if the user installed it manually to their system then google has no right to be messing with that.

UncleMeat 8y ago
The large majority of malware is distributed off the app store. Should antivirus software simply ignore these apps under the assumption that users have complete knowledge of what these apps are doing?
- mikejb 8y ago
  Not ignore - I think warning the user and educate them about the dangers is important and the right thing to do. But blocking an install of a legitimate app because it's coming from a different AppStore doesn't seem right to me.
subroutine 8y ago
I mostly agree. I was simply commenting on why google would opt to remove aptoide rather than take legal action against them. fwiw tho, I still don't think this matter is settled. Perhaps google shouldnt remove aptoide, but I wouldnt have a problem with google removing pirated apps & patched games at the developers request. There are devs in this thread who are seeing their work being distributed by aptoide without permission and have little recourse. Also people are not simply using these cracked apps for private amusement; they use them to, for example, cheat in multiplayer games. If it becomes a regular occurance to come across accounts playing in god mode, this can harm a dev's entire ecosystems and erode long-term trust. So i think google should at least have the leeway, at the developer's request, to brick a pirated app. Or perhaps less controversially, google could block the pirated app from using any of their web/cloud services. Is that too harsh? What do you think?
- qwertay 8y ago
  I understand why google would want to do this and why developers would want to do this but this is MY personal device. It's not googles job to police what I install on my own device. Sure, show a warning that the app I am installing is potentially unsafe but I should have the final say over anything that happens on my device. Too often I see people using the excuse that tech companies lock us out of our own things for their own protection. I saw a comment saying apple is right to block people from repairing things themself because a bad repair could get sold on ebay and then someone buys it and thinks poorly of apple. This in my opinion is completely ridiculous how we let the idea of personal ownership go out the window so Apple or Google can make a few more $ out of you by having full control over what you can do.
  - subroutine 8y ago
    Right to repare is a different issue, which I strongly support. What I'm talking about is whether google/developer should be able to brick a pirated app on your phone. I've done my fair share of pirating, and I would much rather have that be the outcome than the developer taking legal action against me. I have a friend who was sued for 10k by the music industry for pirating 1000s of songs. If there was a way for them to just render those songs unplayable I think she would take that option in a heartbeat. What I would have a problem with is google preventing you from doing anything legal on your android phone simply because it hurts their bottom line.
    - qwertay 8y ago
      I don't think google should even be able to see what apps I have installed on my phone outside of the google play store. If they can't see that then there is no way they could block ones they don't like. Of course they most certainly will track that which is why I have removed all play services from my phone. Its like asking if the police can install a camera in your house and if they see you smoking weed they can come in and take it so you don't get a fine.

UncleMeat 8y ago

The large majority of malware is distributed off the app store. Should antivirus software simply ignore these apps under the assumption that users have complete knowledge of what these apps are doing?

mikejb 8y ago
Not ignore - I think warning the user and educate them about the dangers is important and the right thing to do. But blocking an install of a legitimate app because it's coming from a different AppStore doesn't seem right to me.

subroutine 8y ago

I mostly agree. I was simply commenting on why google would opt to remove aptoide rather than take legal action against them. fwiw tho, I still don't think this matter is settled. Perhaps google shouldnt remove aptoide, but I wouldnt have a problem with google removing pirated apps & patched games at the developers request. There are devs in this thread who are seeing their work being distributed by aptoide without permission and have little recourse. Also people are not simply using these cracked apps for private amusement; they use them to, for example, cheat in multiplayer games. If it becomes a regular occurance to come across accounts playing in god mode, this can harm a dev's entire ecosystems and erode long-term trust. So i think google should at least have the leeway, at the developer's request, to brick a pirated app. Or perhaps less controversially, google could block the pirated app from using any of their web/cloud services. Is that too harsh? What do you think?

qwertay 8y ago
I understand why google would want to do this and why developers would want to do this but this is MY personal device. It's not googles job to police what I install on my own device. Sure, show a warning that the app I am installing is potentially unsafe but I should have the final say over anything that happens on my device. Too often I see people using the excuse that tech companies lock us out of our own things for their own protection. I saw a comment saying apple is right to block people from repairing things themself because a bad repair could get sold on ebay and then someone buys it and thinks poorly of apple. This in my opinion is completely ridiculous how we let the idea of personal ownership go out the window so Apple or Google can make a few more $ out of you by having full control over what you can do.
- subroutine 8y ago
  Right to repare is a different issue, which I strongly support. What I'm talking about is whether google/developer should be able to brick a pirated app on your phone. I've done my fair share of pirating, and I would much rather have that be the outcome than the developer taking legal action against me. I have a friend who was sued for 10k by the music industry for pirating 1000s of songs. If there was a way for them to just render those songs unplayable I think she would take that option in a heartbeat. What I would have a problem with is google preventing you from doing anything legal on your android phone simply because it hurts their bottom line.
  - qwertay 8y ago
    I don't think google should even be able to see what apps I have installed on my phone outside of the google play store. If they can't see that then there is no way they could block ones they don't like. Of course they most certainly will track that which is why I have removed all play services from my phone. Its like asking if the police can install a camera in your house and if they see you smoking weed they can come in and take it so you don't get a fine.