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Unless they block ADB, I wouldn't say it's accurate to claim they're "blocking sideloading". That said, it's clearly a balancing act between protecting people f

Unless they block ADB, I wouldn't say it's accurate to claim they're "blocking sideloading". That said, it's clearly a balancing act between protecting people from installing malware but allowing them to intentionally install things they really do want to install, regardless of what permissions they need.

jeroenhd 1y ago
They don't, and they don't even block F-Droid. You can also just disable Play Protect (though Google won't let you while you're on a call, probably a smart move). According to the Singapore police, scammers also have victims download VPNs of Google Play to work around the regional restrictions. I don't think the restrictions are doing much for victims. I assume Google was pressured into doing this by the authorities, or may be doing this to get in a good spot politically.
cAtte_ 1y ago
requiring a user to own a PC in order to sideload apps (with adb) would, in fact, count as blocking sideloading, albeit partially. so i don't think that's the right limit
- FergusArgyll 1y ago
  I've sideloaded apps for other people. They don't have to own a PC but it's true that it'll slow it down, so you do have a point.
Zak 1y ago
Every time the technical sophistication required to install apps from anywhere but Google's store (I don't love the term "sideloading" since it kind of denormalizes the act) is increased, the chances anyone will put in the effort to distribute apps any other way goes down. It also means apps Google doesn't want in its store are less likely to get made; I'd really like to see something that prioritizes notifications for me, for example, and I think that's against Google's rules. I'm sure making it harder to obtain software outside a first-party app store provides some protection to some users from scams, but I really don't want that to be the answer. I don't claim to have a good one myself.
mystified5016 1y ago
Yeah, just like you can sideload on iPhone by desoldering the flash, decrypting it, and modifying the OS. Just because something is technically possible does not make it a solution
- blacksmith_tb 1y ago
  That's a little higher bar than plugging in a usb cable and running ADB... but I would agree that most users probably won't figure out how to sideload from a terminal.

jeroenhd 1y ago

They don't, and they don't even block F-Droid. You can also just disable Play Protect (though Google won't let you while you're on a call, probably a smart move). According to the Singapore police, scammers also have victims download VPNs of Google Play to work around the regional restrictions. I don't think the restrictions are doing much for victims. I assume Google was pressured into doing this by the authorities, or may be doing this to get in a good spot politically.

cAtte_ 1y ago

requiring a user to own a PC in order to sideload apps (with adb) would, in fact, count as blocking sideloading, albeit partially. so i don't think that's the right limit

FergusArgyll 1y ago
I've sideloaded apps for other people. They don't have to own a PC but it's true that it'll slow it down, so you do have a point.

Zak 1y ago

Every time the technical sophistication required to install apps from anywhere but Google's store (I don't love the term "sideloading" since it kind of denormalizes the act) is increased, the chances anyone will put in the effort to distribute apps any other way goes down. It also means apps Google doesn't want in its store are less likely to get made; I'd really like to see something that prioritizes notifications for me, for example, and I think that's against Google's rules. I'm sure making it harder to obtain software outside a first-party app store provides some protection to some users from scams, but I really don't want that to be the answer. I don't claim to have a good one myself.

mystified5016 1y ago

Yeah, just like you can sideload on iPhone by desoldering the flash, decrypting it, and modifying the OS. Just because something is technically possible does not make it a solution

blacksmith_tb 1y ago
That's a little higher bar than plugging in a usb cable and running ADB... but I would agree that most users probably won't figure out how to sideload from a terminal.